HRC 52nd Session: Item 8: Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action

29 March, 2023

Delivered by Mr. Henrik Yeritsyan, Second Secretary

President,

As we celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the VDPA, Armenia would like to emphasize two out of its many important provisions.

First, the VDPA stipulates that the respect for human rights for all contribute to the stability and well-being necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations.

Secondly, it calls the parties to armed conflicts to strictly observe international humanitarian law and protect human rights.

Based on our regional experience, Armenia believes that these two provisions are intertwined. Those who violate human rights domestically are also those that breach the IHL and IHRL during the armed conflict. As the High Commissioner put it “without human rights there can be no enduring peace, no sustainable development, no justice.”

My government has declared about its intention to boost regional peace and makes tangible efforts in this regard. Armenia concurs that the promotion of democracy may be a way of settling the conflicts. We are fully aware that it takes two to tango. However, we are trying to make our own contribution. This year Armenia received highest rankings in the region in the indexes for Democracy and the World Press Freedom.

I thank you.

First Right of Reply

President,

Armenia is obliged to exercises its right of reply to Azerbaijan, which takes the floor at the Human Rights Council with a sole mission to attack Armenia. This vividly demonstrates that Azerbaijan has nothing to say in the field of human rights. This does not come as a surprise for a state that occupies 154^th place on the Press Freedom Index and 157^th on Corruption Perception Index.

Obviously, 30 years were not enough for Azerbaijan to grasp the essence of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Let us remind that the VDPA is about human rights and fundamental freedoms. With its dire human rights record, Azerbaijan would do a justice to everyone by not taking the floor under this agenda item at all.

Meanwhile, we call upon Azerbaijan instead of disseminating groundless propaganda to engage in a meaningful dialogue in the framework of the HRC. In particular, Azerbaijan should consider providing a response to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Procedure Mandate Holders on the humanitarian consequences of the disruption of Lachin Corridor. Likewise, instead of criticizing the special procedure mandate holders, Azerbaijan may consider to engage with them in a meaningful dialogue on a number of issues raised in their communications addressed to the Government of Azerbaijan, including on the use of mercenaries against Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as on the distraction and vandalism committed against Armenian cultural and religious heritage.

The UN Mandate Holders also expressed most serious concern at the “intentional extrajudicial killings and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and torture of Armenian soldiers as well as outrages upon personal dignity and disrespectful treatment of human remains.”

The Mandate Holders stressed that these violations could amount to various war crimes. They asked for “factual and legal reasons for the continued detention of PoWs after the cessation of hostilities and measures to inform the disappeared about their fate and the exact whereabouts.”

Azerbaijan has nothing to say in response, but rather commits these gross violations being fully aware of their gravity and being fully sure of impunity. We are ready to hear the responses of Azerbaijan to these and other requests of the UN human rights machinery be it at the HRC sessions, or in any other format or framework.

I thank you.

Second Right of Reply

President,

Armenia asked its second right of reply in response to groundless allegations of Azerbaijan.

In the very year when the VDPA was adopted inter allia denouncing terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Azerbaijan employed terrorist groups from Chechnya and Mujahedeens from Afghanistan to fight against Nagorno-Karabakh. This has been largely reported by international organizations and media.

Azerbaijan did the same also in 2020 recruiting mercenaries closely associated to the terrorist groups to fight against Nagorno-Karabakh. The UN Working Group on mercenaries has concluded in this regard that (and I quote) “it is even more worrisome that the Syrian fighters deployed to Azerbaijan are allegedly affiliated with armed groups and individuals that, in some cases, have been accused of war crimes and serious human rights abuses”(end of the quote)”. Indeed, according their own testimonies these mercenaries were offered additional 100 dollars bonus for every decapitated infidel Armenian.

Another provision of the VDPA calls to refrain from any unilateral measure not in accordance with international law that impedes the full realization of the human rights, in particular the rights of everyone to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, including food and medical care.

In a blatant breach of this obligation Azerbaijan continues for more than 100 days to block the Lachin Corridor, the only road that supplies Nagorno-Karabakh with food, medicine and other essential goods.

In a gross violation of VDPA Azerbaijan hinders the return of hundreds of thousands displaced Armenians to their ancestral homes. And the list can go on.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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