Armenia Becomes an Official Member of the Peace Council

Prime Minister Pashinyan attended the signing ceremony for the charter of the U.S.-led "Peace Council" for Gaza in Davos. In a statement shared on his social media account, Pashinyan said:

"I was honored to participate in the Peace Council meeting and the official signing ceremony of its charter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Armenia's participation in this platform reflects our continuous commitment to lasting peace and international cooperation."

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the ceremony on behalf of Turkey and signed the Peace Council agreement. During the ceremony, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that "nearly everyone" wanted to join the Peace Council. From the European Union, only Hungary participated in the ceremony. The United Kingdom, one of the United States' closest allies, announced that it would not be part of the council in the initial phase.

While Trump's proposal initially aimed for the council to focus on ending the war in Gaza and overseeing reconstruction, the proposed charter reportedly does not mention Palestinian territories. Furthermore, the charter contains language that gives the impression the council intends to take over functions of the United Nations, drawing criticism that the Peace Council is encroaching upon the UN’s jurisdiction as defined by international law.

Who Are the Members?

The founding members who attended the ceremony and signed the agreement include:

• Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Jordan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A U.S. official speaking to Reuters stated that approximately 35 out of the 50 world leaders invited to the Council have committed to participating.

Membership Fees

Regarding the controversial $1 million membership fee being discussed in Armenia, Ani Badalyan, the Spokesperson for the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, clarified: "We wish to report that the Peace Council charter provides for membership based on voluntary financial contributions."

Expanding on the matter, Bagdasaryan stated:

"A country invited by U.S. President Trump may join the Council without paying a clearly defined membership fee for a period of up to three years; after this period expires, the status is reviewed according to established procedures. The Armenian government approved membership in the Peace Council on these grounds. The membership fee mentioned is voluntary and applies if any country expresses a desire for permanent membership within one year of the charter’s entry into force."

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan officially signed the Peace Council Charter in Davos on January 22.

(Source: Armenian Media, BBC Turkish)