Statement by the Republic of Armenia at the 112th Session of the Council of the International Organisation for Migration: Delivered by H.E. Andranik Hovhannisyan, Permanent Representative

01 December, 2021

November 30, 2021

Statement by the Republic of Armenia

International Organisation for Migration: 112^th Session of the Council

Item 12: General debate

Delivered by H.E. Andranik Hovhannisyan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Armenia to UN Office and other International Organisations in Geneva

Madam Chair,

Director General, Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Let me start by congratulating you, madam Chair and newly appointed members of the Bureau. I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary of the IOM. Laws, rules, patterns and narratives around migration undergone profound changes in those 70 years and we can surely state that IOM as a unique global institution continues to fulfill its role of making orderly migration a driver of progress as well as reaching out to the most vulnerable people on the move.

The last decade was marked with transformative developments in human mobility and consequently in the work of the organization. IOM’s joining to the UN family underscores the importance of multilateral approaches to migration issues as cross cutting priorities across all three pillars of the United Nations.

We are happy to note that institutional reforms geared in strengthening the leadership system of the organization and we take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Ugochi Danials and Ms. Amy Pop on their appointment to the posts of Deputy Director Generals and wish them utmost success in moving our common agenda forward.

We also note with appreciation that the issue of reform of the regional groupings of the organization has been resolved, which will pave the way for more equitable representation in the Bureau.

Madam Chair,

We celebrate this joyous occasion in the environment of growing challenges where yet unsettled issues of insecurity, inequality and human rights violations are exacerbated by the health-care calamities. With shaken economic and social systems, as well as aggressive militarism on the rise, the most vulnerable populations, including migrants, victims of forced displacement and people residing in the areas of armed conflict often time find themselves estranged from protection systems and deprived from humanitarian access in the ongoing crises. This should serve as the most sobering lesson on interdependence of global safety and security.

Conflict induced forced displacement, constant provocations and aggressive actions against Armenia, direct attacks on civilians of bordering regions, imposed new imperatives on the Government policies in Armenia.

At the same time, faithful to the human rights based approach and humanitarian principles, Government of Armenia safeguarded universal access to vaccination for all, including migrants and refugees.

Armenia also undertook comprehensive reform of the migration management system. The IOM is an important international partner in this regard.

We look forward to closer and more comprehensive cooperation that would better reflect the complex challenges and programmatic priorities. The success stories we’ve registered with the IOM so far, give us great deal of confidence for the future.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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