HRC 51st Session։ General debate under Agenda item 2: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General.

13 September, 2022

Delivered by H.E. Mr. Andranik HOVHANNISYAN, Permanent Representative

President,

We had another statement to deliver today, however, events of last night at home forced us to refocus it. Starting from midnight, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military aggression against the Republic of Armenia. The Azerbaijani armed forces, using heavy artillery, Multiple Rocket Launchers and combat UAVs intensively shelled the cities of Goris, Jermuk, Vardenis, Kapan, Sotk and nearby villages deep into the proper sovereign territory of my country.

The situation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani borders remains extremely tense. The fire of the Azerbaijani armed forces has been indiscriminate and targeted civilian infrastructure and population. Instances of attacks on medical personal and their clearly-marked vehicles have been reported by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia. As a result of Azerbaijani military attacks, there are numerous causalities, both military and civilian.

This recent unprovoked and unjustified aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia is yet another flagrant violation by Azerbaijan of the Charter of the United Nations and the Tripartite Ceasefire Statement of 9 November 2020 of the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia has been continuously expressing to the international community its deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the border of Armenia with Azerbaijan. We have been warning about the possibility of renewed aggression by Azerbaijan against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. At the last session High Commissioner specifically called for stepped up engagement through existing negotiations to contribute to prevention, confidence-building and protection in the region.

As the Deputy High Commissioner has correctly stated the pursuit of peace, stability and justice should unite us all and be at the core of the mission of this Council. We expect this august body to fulfil it and to uphold our collective commitment by properly addressing Azerbaijan’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression against my nation.

Finally, we too congratulate Mr. Volker Türk upon his appointment and call on him to remain ceased of this matter. The OHCHR’s unfettered access to and presence in Nagorno-Karabakh could have prevented this aggression.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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