HRC52: Debate in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

29 March, 2023

Delivered by Ms. Lilit Toutkhalian, Minister Councillor of the Mission of Armenia to UNOG

March 29, 2023

Mr. President,

Armenia would like to draw the attention of this Council to the pattern of racially motivated hatred incited by the authorities of Azerbaijan against the Armenian nation.

In this regard let me quote from the recent statement delivered at the highest level in Azerbaijan. It says that Armenians are “showing to the world again how treacherous and ungrateful they are. They don’t know whose feet to fall under. All this is to no avail. There is one condition for them to live comfortably – Armenia must accept our conditions” end of quote.

Now allow me to quote the Order of the International Court of Justice adopted long before this statement. Azerbaijan shall - and I quote - “Take all necessary measures to prevent the incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination, including by its officials and public institutions, targeted at persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin.”

Obviously, Azerbaijan not just blatantly ignores the binding order of the ICJ; it continues to incite hatred against Armenians. This has been noticed and reported by a number of international structures.

In particular, the UN CERD Committee expressed deep concern with regard to Azerbaijan's, and I quote, “Incitement to racial hatred and the propagation of racist stereotypes against persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin, including by public figures and government officials.”

The cases of egregious incitement of racial hatred should not go unnoticed. They stand as early warning signs of mass atrocities that may follow. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is an illustrative case in point.

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