HRC 54rd Session. Item 3 – General Debate - Embassy of Armenia to Switzerland and Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN office at Geneva

HRC 54rd Session. Item 3 – General Debate

21 September, 2023

Delivered by Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan, Permanent Representative

President,

Yesterday Azerbaijan unleashed an aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh. The third one in last seven years. All previous ones were accompanied by gross violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that some may have amounted to war crimes. This aggression seems is not an exception. There are reports about indiscriminate bombing and shelling of civilian areas, numerous casualties, including among children, women and older persons.

The aggression was preceded by nine-months-long inhumane blockade of the sole life-line for Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians. The calls of the UN Secretary General, High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Orders of the ICJ, among many other international reactions, were not enough to compel Azerbaijan to open the road for the humanitarian aid. Azerbaijan created unbearable conditions for the population of Nagorno-Karabakh to suffocate them.

Hence, Armenia has continuously reported to this Council about looming ethnic cleansing. Now it is in progress. The civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh are trapped and they do not have a way to evacuate since Azerbaijan continues to block the only life-line connection with Armenia.

This is not a mere conflict situation. This is a crime against humanity and should be treated as such.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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