The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will travel to Yerevan to participate in the eighth European Political Community summit on Monday, 4 May.
While in Armenia Secretary General Berset will take part in a roundtable on democratic resilience and hybrid threats. His intervention will focus on foreign information manipulation and interference as a serious threat to democratic and national security and on the need for a concerted response, including a suitable legal basis.
Europe cannot strengthen military security while neglecting democratic security
“Europe is facing war on its own continent and a new conflict at its borders that affects our security directly”, Alain Berset said ahead of the visit. “At a time of rupture, Europe cannot strengthen military security while neglecting democratic security. Foreign interference operations and other hybrid threats are designed to weaken institutions from within. Building democratic resilience is how we protect their integrity”.
The Secretary General will hold bilateral meetings where he will emphasise the Council of Europe’s role in democratic security and stability in the South Caucasus and beyond.
Accountability for Ukraine will also be on the agenda, including the Council of Europe’s work on the Special Tribunal and on compensation for those affected by Russia’s war of aggression, through the Register of Damage and the International Claims Commission.
