Statement of the Delegation of Armenia at the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

04 March, 2021

HRC 46^th Session: Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

Delivered by Mr. Pertsh Boshnaghyan

President,

Armenia unreservedly supports the international collaboration in countering terrorism, including through bilateral, regional, and global arrangements and initiatives. We are convinced that it should be a concerted effort, in which the civil society and academia also have a say. Moreover, it ought to be undertaken with due human rights diligence and in a transparent manner. We appreciate that you consistently address the effects of terrorism on the promotion and protection of human rights.

The degree of terrorism-caused destruction is dramatically higher when it is supported, directed, financed, organized, and used by the States. Armenia would like to draw the attention of the Special Rapporteur to the direct and indirect recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters by the governments. The UN Working Group on mercenaries voiced alarm over the devastating consequences of the use of FTFs in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, including on the frontline as Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s assistance, relied on Syrian fighters to shore-up and sustain its military operations. The UN experts were concerned about its implications for the civilian population, and little prospects of accountability for the crimes FTFs committed. In case of their death, the Working Group noted, the FTFs’ relatives were promised financial compensation and Turkish nationality.

Armenia calls upon distinguished Special Rapporteur to keep this issue under her radar.

Thank you.

Right of Reply

President,

Armenia would like to exercise its right of reply to the allegations made by Azerbaijan during the IDs on Environment and Counter Terrorism.

The presence of the jihadist mercenaries in the ranks of Azerbaijan fighting against Nagorno-Karabakh has been a matter of concern expressed by the President of France, Foreign Minister of Russia and many others. Recently H.E. Heiko Maas, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany stated at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that (and I quote) “with regard to Nagorno-Karabakh, based on current intelligence, we have to assume that a certain number of these Syrian fighters are indeed still in the crisis area.” Reportedly these jihadist fighters and their families are being settled by Azerbaijan in the Armenian villages occupied as a result of the recent war.

Azerbaijan has employed foreign terrorist fighters against Nagorno-Karabakh also during the first war in 1990s. The international media has widely reported about the participation of Chechen terrorists, including their notorious commander Shamil Basayev, as well as thousands of Afghan mujahedeens in the ranks of the army of Azerbaijan.

I thank you

MFA RA
official website

Dual citizenship

Electronic visa

Visa applications