Statement delivered by H.E. Andranik Hovhannisyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia at the Interactive Dialogue on the annual Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 47th Session of the Human Rights Council

22 June, 2021

HRC 47^th Session: Item 2 – Interactive Dialogue on the annual report of High Commissioner

Delivered by H. E. Mr. Andranik Hovhannisyan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative

President,

Armenia thanks High Commissioner for the report and dedicated leadership.

We took note of the OHCHR activities in the areas of peace and security. It is our conviction that human rights should be mainstreamed through UN response to conflicts.

We further took note of the Office’s remote monitoring of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is regrettable that the Office did not succeed in visiting Nagorno-Karabakh, notwithstanding its continued determination to seek access. The spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General has recently clarified loud and clear that Azerbaijan hindered UN access to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Another plea of the High Commissioner and Special Procedure Mandate Holders on the humane treatment and prompt release of Prisoners of War and other captives from the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unfulfilled, as Azerbaijan refuses to repatriate them.

Furthermore, the extrajudicial execution of Armenians identified by the High Commissioner and the Special Procedure Mandate Holders, as well as other war crimes remain unaddressed.

Azerbaijan’s resistance to accountability for grave violations of international law entrenches impunity into the pattern of violence. Urgent action of the international community and UN human rights machinery is needed to break it.

I thank you.

22 June 2021

HRC 47^th Session: Right of Reply- Item 2: ID on the annual report by High Commissioner

Right of Reply

President,

My delegation asked for the floor to express its dismay at the pattern of abuses of this august Council exerted by Azerbaijan, which consistently puts forward biased, politically motivated allegations against my country that are far from the agenda, mandate, and spirit of the HRC. Azerbaijan tries to mislead the international community by distorting the root causes of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the recent hostilities it initiated with an intention to annihilate the Armenian population.

First, snap parliamentary elections were conducted in Armenia two days ago. The ruling party of Armenia will remain in office with around 54 percent of the votes.

Second, the international observers, including from the ODIHR concluded that the elections were competitive and well-managed. The election administration conducted its work in a transparent, professional manner and enjoyed electoral stakeholders’ confidence. Voters were provided with a broad range of options, and fundamental rights and freedoms were respected, with contestants being able to campaign freely. Election day, including the vote count, was also assessed positively.

Third, in a stark contrast, the last elections in Azerbaijan were qualified by the same specialized international agency in the following terms (and I quote): “the restrictive legislation and political environment prevented genuine competition”; “some prospective candidates were denied the right to stand”; “voters were not provided with a meaningful choice due to a lack of real political discussion”; “Instances of pressure on voters, candidates and their representatives were observed”, “significant procedural violations during counting and the tabulation raised concerns whether the results were established honestly”.

Hence, the exploitation of the HRC platform by Azerbaijan does not come as a surprise for us. Azerbaijan is far from being a State that strives at contributing to promote the human rights. On the contrary, it is an authoritarian country that tries to conceal its malpractices and breaches of fundamental freedoms, and gross violations of human rights. Azerbaijan invented the notorious practices of “laundromat” and “caviar diplomacy” that since then have been inscribed among the list of most egregious cases of corruption and embezzlement. Azerbaijan refers to its opposition as a ‘fifth column,’ abducts and attacks its critics abroad, blatantly falsifies elections and keeps dissenting voices behind the bars. Hardly such a country can preach about human rights at this Council.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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