Statement delivered by the Delegation of Armenia at the Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing

23 June, 2021

Delivered by Mr. Henrik Yeritsyan, Third Secretary

Madam President,

We would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for presenting the contribution made by his mandate since its establishment towards the realization of the right to adequate housing as well as for outlining the challenges ahead.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put to a test the resilience of the international system to address in an ample manner the threats and risks to the enjoyment of human rights posed by the global crisis and has further challenged the full application of right to adequate housing, in particular.

Madam President,

We concur with the Special Rapporteur that one of the primary reasons that drive displacement are conflicts and, in this context, we are glad to note the emphasis in his efforts that is going to revolve around the right to housing and its nexus to humanitarian law and humanitarian response.

Last year, on September 27 Azerbaijan unleashed aggression against Nagorno Karabakh, committing gross violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, perpetrating despicable atrocity crimes against the civilian population and causing long-lasting humanitarian consequences: around 90,000 people were displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and more than 38,000 of them are deprived from the right of adequate housing and means of subsistence, since their places of residence fell under the military control of Azerbaijan.

I thank you.

Right of Reply in response to the statement of Azerbaijan during the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing

Delivered by Mr. Henrik Yeritsyan, Third Secretary

Madam Vice President,

Armenia would like to exercise its right of reply in response to the statement made by the representative of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani armed forces, throughout 44 days of the offensive, supported by terrorist mercenaries from the Middle East, deliberately and systematically targeted residential areas and civilian infrastructures in Nagorno-Karabakh. People fled their homes due to immanent threat to their lives. In this regard, it’s important to mention that all territories that were occupied by Azerbaijan during the course of the recent war were not only totally wiped out of their indigenous Armenian population but Azerbaijani authorities spare no effort to systematically destroy the Armenian cultural heritage and rewrite the history of the region.

Madam Vice President,

Overwhelming majority of the forcefully displaced residents of Nagorno Karabakh, around 88% of them, are women and children. The Government of Armenia has developed a series of strategic interventions for all affected people and host families, covering a wide range of needs through mostly cash assistance, compensations for material losses, access to healthcare, including Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, physical rehabilitation, education, temporary housing, and income generation.

However, their plight requires urgent and comprehensive action by international humanitarian actors. In this regard, it’s deplorable that Azerbaijan is politicizing humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh by creating artificial impediments.

Taking this opportunity, we would like to thank our Russian partners for their humanitarian relief efforts, as well as other countries who extended their support to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh mainly through the ICRC activities. These are almost the only international humanitarian presences in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Madam Vice President,

People of Nagorno Karabakh should be able to fully exercise their right to return to their ancestral homes in safety and dignity. We are convinced that the sustainable peace in the region can be achieved only through comprehensive and just settlement of the conflict and the resolution of the final legal status of Nagorno Karabakh through the realization of the right of people of Artsakh to self-determination.

The lack of adequate response to the aggression of Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh last year encouraged that country to pursue an aggressive policy towards the Republic of Armenia too in an attempt to occupy border areas and deprive the local population of its livelihood. This impunity should come to an end to restore peace and justice in the region.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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