51st session of the Human Rights Council Panel discussion on the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights: Delivered by Mr. Nairi PETROSSIAN, Deputy Permanent Representative

30 September, 2022

President,

We thank our distinguished moderator and panelists for their interventions.

Armenia supported the HRC resolution 48/7 Negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights since we view colonialism as an unjustifiable evil that violates human rights and impedes their full enjoyment.

We in Armenia found ourselves in a protracted conflict that is belligerently imposed upon us by Azerbaijan. It is a relatively modern conflict, however, it also has the legacy of the several centuries and waves of colonial expansionism, foreign occupation and forced subjugation being brought upon the Armenian homeland by the invading forces coming from afar to forcefully change the demographic balance, to repress and dispossess the indigenous population. Ever since Armenia reestablished itself as a free, independent and democratic nation, it has continuously faced racist, jingoist and dehumanizing rhetoric of violence stemming from Azerbaijan.

The situation is further exacerbated by the obvious connection between domestic repression and the external aggression pursued by Azerbaijan against Armenia. It is in itself a neocolonial phenomenon as a repressive machinery rallies its own society around the flag to distract its people from their actual woes.

This situation compelled us to institute in 2021 proceedings against Azerbaijan before the International Court of Justice with regard to violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Amid crystal clear provisional measures ordered by the ICJ in 2021, including refraining from any action that might aggravate or extend the dispute, on 13 September 2022 Azerbaijan launched another unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Armenia.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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