Statement delivered by the delegation of Armenia during the adoption of the HRC Resolution “Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic”

24 March, 2021

HRC 46^th Session: A/HRC/46/L.24

Explanation of vote before the vote on the draft resolution “Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic”

Delivered by H.E. Andranik HOVHANNISYAN, Permanent Representative

President,

It has been ten years since bloodshed and carnage was unleashed in Syria. For centuries the sizable Armenian community has been integrated into the fabric of the Syrian society, sharing both happier days and the horrendous suffering of the civil war. This makes Armenia extremely sensitive to the processes unfolding in this country.

Last year thousands of Syrian mercenaries took part in the war against Nagorno-Karabakh on behalf of Azerbaijan. Turkey facilitated their recruitment and transfer. The UN Expert Group on mercenaries duly reported about this. The actions of these foreign terrorist fighters in Nagorno-Karabakh have been accompanied by most egregious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, caused enormous suffering and casualties among the Armenian population. It is our conviction that this Council should not turn a blind eye to these breaches.

Armenia expressed its concerns on numerous occasions, including at the consultations on this resolution during the last and current sessions on the HRC, as well as at the discussions under various agenda items.

Armenia finds it unacceptable that certain issues are preferred to be downplayed, including the human rights violations and abuses in the territories of Syria under Turkey’s effective control. The impunity emboldens supporters of the terrorist organizations and they extend their inhumane practices to other regions of the world as we witnessed through the transfer of terrorists to fight against Nagorno-Karabakh.

During the informal consultations, Armenia came up with proposals expressing grave concern at the numerous reports about the recruitment and transfer of fighters from Syria to be used in hostilities outside the country. Furthermore, Armenia proposed to request the Commission of Inquiry to investigate and address this issue in its reports and oral updates.

Regrettably, the core group was not able to incorporate even this neutral language into the resolution. We believe that Turkey should have been the first to push for it, if it refutes any involvement. Nevertheless, we assume that Turkey, as a core group member, time and again abused its position to circumvent the responsibility it bears for the human rights violations in Syria and beyond. Armenia is convinced that it is the duty of other members of the core group to call Turkey to order.

Armenia has been Abstaining during the voting of this resolution. Nevertheless, based on what was mentioned above, my Government has been left with little choice but to change its vote to No.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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