Statement delivered by the Delegation of Armenia during the general debate under the Agenda Item 4 of the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

12 March, 2021

HRC 46th Session: Item 4: Human rights situations that require Council’s attention

Delivered by Zoya Stepanyan, Second Secretary

President,

One year ago, while addressing this august body Secretary General called us to step up our actions on human rights, to help societies grow in freedom, to prevent conflict, reduce human suffering and build a just and equitable world. Armenia fully subscribed to this task and, as pandemic erupted, unconditionally supported SG’s appeal for Global ceasefire, fully cognisant of immense valnurability and disastrous situation of millions of people caught in the areas of armed conflict. Unfortunately, that didn’t spear our region from the violent splash of aggressive militarism and most inhumane exploitation of pandemic and human suffering.

On September 27, Azerbaijan, in breach of UN Security Council resolution 2532, launched a full-scale war against Nagorno Karabakh demonstrating unspeakable cruelty, committing atrocity crimes, inflicting maximum damage to civilian population and infrastructure with unconcealed goal to terrorize and annihilate indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh. Territories currently under Azerbaijani control are still horded with foreign terrorist fighters, jihadist elements accused of the war crimes in the various countries of the Middle East. We continue to insist on their immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

The statement of the heads of states of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan of 9 November 2020, was aimed at the establishment of a ceasefire and deployment of the peacekeepers in Artsakh. Yet, one of the most important provisions on the unconditional repatriation of all PoWs and detainees is deliberately violated and exploited by Azerbaijan.

UN absence in Nagorno Karabakh has been one of the aggravating factors of the lack of international protection. Azerbaijan is hampering the access of UN agencies and humanitarian organizations in an attempt to conceal its crimes, most notably destruction, looting and falsification of indigenous Armenian cultural and religious heritage.

We are convinced that crimes committed by Azerbaijan and ongoing blatant violations deserve the most serious attention of this Council.

I thank you.

1^st Right of reply to the Statement made by Azerbaijan

Delivered by Mrs. Zoya Stepanyan, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Armenia

Madam President,

My delegation asked for the floor to reply to the statement by Azerbaijan delivered under this agenda item. We would like to underscore that the attempts to consolidate the results of the military aggression by Azerbaijan against the indigenous people of Nagorno Karabakh not only represent violation of the UN Charter but also do not contribute to any durable solution of the conflict.

In the midst of pandemic for 44 days Azerbaijan was deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals with the aim to terrorize people and multiply human sufferings. Azerbaijan used cluster munitions as well as incendiary weapons containing white phosphorus causing severe harm to human life and irrevocable damage to environment. Azerbaijan is denying the facts showcased and confirmed by numerous independent sources and the leaders of several states. Thousands of foreign terrorist fighters have been trafficked to our region to fight against people of Nagorno Karabakh. Those radicalized criminal elements are trained to commit atrocity crimes. They spread hatred and animosity based on ethnic and religious identity. In the case of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, for example, terrorists were offered “extra 100 dollars for each beheaded infidel Armenian”. There’s a solid evidence that many of these fighters remain in the territories currently under Azerbaijani control.

When taking a liberty to speak about demining, Azerbaijan conveniently forgets that majority of the territories that came under Azerbaijan’s control after the 44 Day Nagorno Karabakh War of 2020 had been under Azerbaijan’s control in the beginning of 1990s and it heavily mined those areas then. The Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh have been suffering for years from these minefields. By the UNDP estimates hundreds were killed, and hundreds more injured by mine explosions. The HALO Trust, British-American nonprofit organization that has been engaged in demining in Nagorno Karabakh estimated that “there have been more landmine accidents per capita in Karabakh than anywhere in the world.” Those antipersonnel landmines were planted by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno Karabakh. If there are any mine-related incidents in those territories most probably they result from the mines planted by Azerbaijan itself while retreating in 1990s.

Azerbaijan conveniently forgets how for years it hampered any humanitarian project in the area of armed conflict, including on mine action and how it blocked the humanitarian demining project of the OSCE. We reject any attempt by Azerbaijan to mislead the international community and whitewash its gross violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law.

2nd Right of reply to the Statement made by Azerbaijan

Madam President,

My delegation is compelled to take the floor for the second time. We have to remind to the delegation of Azerbaijan that the Human Rights Council is called for protection and promotion of all human rights. Nagorno Karabakh conflict, its causes and consequences is the most vivid example of outright denial of the basic human rights.

More than thirty years ago, after decades of foreign oppression, a peaceful plea by the Armenian population of Artsakh was met with pogroms, atrocities, ethnic cleansing and mass deportations. People of Artsakh proved their right to live in the land of their ancestors free from any coercion and despotic rule, they proved it in a brutal war they never started. They built a well-functioning and accountable democracy. For years Azerbaijan was rejecting not only all attempts of political settlement but also any confidence-building measure, denying the very existence of indigenous Armenian people of Artsakh.

The November 9 statement was about the ceasefire and deployment of the peacekeepers. It was not a peace agreement. Four months passed still Azerbaijan vehemently denies to implement its provisions on the repatriation of prisoners and hostages, as well as on the deployment of UNHCR. Lasting and durable peace can be achieved through a comprehensive settlement based on the realization of the human rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the right to self-determination.

Peace can’t be built by creating the circle of impunity – by abducting civilians, including women, by keeping prisoners of war as hostages and broadcasting their torture, intimidation and ISIS style beheadings.

I thank you

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