HRC 48: Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Delivered by Mr. Nairi Petrossian, Deputy Permanent Representative

23 September, 2021

September 23, 2021

HRC 48^th Session: Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

Delivered by Mr. Nairi Petrossian, Deputy Permanent Representative

President,

The Commission’s mandate entails investigating all human rights violations, including crimes against humanity. In this context we recall that in 1986 the UN Commission on Human Rights recognized that mercenarism is a crime against humanity.

According to the UN Working Group on mercenaries Azerbaijan, with assistance of Turkey, relied on Syrian fighters to shore-up its military operations during the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. It further concluded that the way they were recruited, transported and used appeared consistent with the definition of a mercenary, as set out by international legal instruments. Many of the fighters deployed were implicated in war crimes, thus, perpetuating a cycle of impunity.

The Working Group found that systematic recruitment of fighters is worrisome given their precarious socioeconomic conditions. The deployment for profit to other conflicts undermines prospects for their reintegration into civilian life, while incentivising those who had not taken part in the conflict in Syria to enlist to fight abroad.

Armenia calls upon the Commission to investigate and establish, in line with its mandate, the facts and circumstances regarding the process of the mercenary recruitment in the territory of Syria and its impact on the human rights situation.

I thank you.

Right of reply

President,

Armenia requested the floor to exercise its right of reply to Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries stated publicly that since August 2020, Turkey and Azerbaijan have been involved in recruiting men through armed groups affiliated primarily with the “Syrian National Army” for deployment to Azerbaijan in support of the military operations of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. Those fighters agreed to be transferred to support the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in return for monetary compensation.

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be Azerbaijan’s wishes and inclinations, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.

An entire industry of agents acted on its behalf to recruit mercenaries from Syria for the armed hostilities against Nagorno-Karabakh. This network included Fahim Issa, who led the Sultan Murad Brigade, Sayf Abu Bakr of the Hamza Division, and Muhammad Jassem, also known as Abu Amsha of the Sultan Sliman Shah Brigade. They acted under pervasive secrecy in the northern part of Syria, including through the private military and security company SADAT and other similar entities.

In this context, Armenia concurs with the Commission of Inquiry that Turkey has a responsibility to ensure public order and safety in the areas under its effective control in Northern Syria and remain bound by its international obligations. Mercenarism is recognized as a crime against humanity. Recruitment, use, financing or training of mercenaries are defined as offences by the relevant International Convention of 1989.

This situation has been widely covered by international mass media, as well as reported and analyzed by civil society organizations. Furthermore, it was publicly corroborated by the leaders, Foreign Ministers and Heads of intelligence services of several States. French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Head of the Russian External Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin have been among them if we are to name but a few.

What Armenia is stating was publicly said by the UN Working Group on mercenaries and all the officials we named. If Azerbaijan and Turkey sincerely want to come clean of these allegations, they should support Armenia’s call to the Independent International Commission of Inquiry to establish the facts and circumstances regarding recruitment of mercenaries from Syria.

I thank you.

MFA RA
official website

Dual citizenship

Electronic visa

Visa applications