“I’d like to extend my sincere congratulations to Freedom House and to the Union of Informed Citizens for organizing this second annual forum for democracy,” Kvien said at the forum attended by President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other government officials.

“I also want to commend the people of Armenia, for their unwavering commitment to democratic reform despite grave security challenges. This commitment to democracy makes Armenia a bright spot in the region as we saw in the Nations in Transit report the Freedom House published just last week. The United States stands with you on your journey towards a more open, accountable, prosperous and secure future. In America, our concerns for human rights come not from a desire to judge others, but from humility about our own history and our own challenges. As Secretary Blinken has said, our willingness to confront these challenges, to acknowledge our shortcomings, not to ignore them or pretend they don’t exist is what distinguishes democracies from other forms of government. I’m incredibly proud of the work that we are doing together in Armenia to strengthen democracy and safeguard human rights. We are taking steps to eliminate discrimination and foster a society that embraces diversity and the rights of every individual in society regardless of their background, beliefs or social status. The United States is supporting your efforts to combat corruption and strengthen the rule of law which underpins economic growth and public trust in the democratic process. We are working together to promote media freedom, protect journalists’ safety and ensure the unrestricted flow of information and freedom of speech. We are also building a more resilient, democratic foundation by promoting civic education and encouraging the active involvement of Armenia’s very strong civil society. Of course it’s in every democracy, including ours, that work remains to be done. I hope this forum can drive forward conversation about what the next steps are in growing Armenia’s democratic foundation. As we move forward, we are grateful for our partnerships with Freedom House, the Union of Informed Citizens and the Armenian Government, all of you who came today. I hope this second annual Forum for Democracy can serve as a platform for discussion, sharing best practices and forging alliances. Together we can overcome challenges, empower individuals and build a future where freedom, justice and democracy prevail. I wish you all a productive discussion, thank you very much,” the ambassador added.