HRC 57 Session: Item 3 – Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence - Embassy of Armenia to Switzerland and Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN office at Geneva

HRC 57 Session: Item 3 – Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence

12 September, 2024

Delivered by Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan, Permanent Representative

Mr. President,

Armenia warmly welcomes Mr. Bernard Duhaime, the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and wishes him all the success in his endeavors.

We would also like to thank Mr. Fabián Salvioli for the considerable work done during his tenure and especially for his country visit to Armenia and his report that is under consideration today.

Mr. President,

The visit of the Special Rapporteur coincided with a most tragic and challenging times we faced recently with regard to the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh committed by Azerbaijan. In this regard, the SR reported about the forced displacement and extended “his solidarity to the refugees and commend[ed] the authorities [of Armenia] for their commitment and expediency in assisting the victims.” The Special Rapporteur stated, in particular that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh “suffered the egregious consequences of the war in the 1990s and has suffered once again since the resurgence of the conflict in 2020. The nine-month closure of the Lachin corridor, from December 2022 to September 2023, despite the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, led to a humanitarian crisis – virtually all access to food, water, medical supplies and essential services was halted by the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan. In the latest stage of the conflict, more than 115,000 residents of the region, virtually its entire population, were displaced to Armenia following the military offensive of Azerbaijan in September 2023,” the Special Rapporteur testified.

He called to include in discussions or agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, adoption of mechanisms of truth, criminal accountability, reparation for victims, and the preservation of the cultural heritage.

Mr. President,

The Special Rapporteur “commended the active role that the Government of Armenia has played in the international arena over the years in memorializing the victims of genocide and advancing global discussions and mechanisms to prevent this crime.” He praised, “the important efforts being devoted to this work”, especially by the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation. He further appreciated the efforts of the Government of Armenia on raising awareness about the importance of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, including by presenting the “Prevention of genocide” resolution in the framework of Human Rights Council. We are encouraged by this assessment and are committed to continue our efforts to this end.

The Special Rapporteur noted that in October 2023, Armenia ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. He commended the Government for its substantive legislative progress in this area.

Mr. President,

Armenia greatly values its cooperation with the UN human rights machinery. In this regard we are particularly glad that the Special Rapporteur put an emphasize on the efforts of the Government of Armenia conducted since the Velvet Revolution of 2018 on promotion and protection of human rights.

These efforts highlighted by the Special Rapporteur included a large package of reforms adopted by the Government in the fields of judiciary, anti-corruption, electoral code and security sector. We took note of his meticulous and detailed overview and his assessments, though we may not agree with everything.

He also noted that after the Velvet Revolution a number of criminal cases relating to ill-treatment committed by police officers were launched. Several non-combat deaths that had not been effectively investigated were reopened. The investigations into the events of the aftermath of 1 March 2008 demonstrations were revived, bringing charges against key former officials.

The Special Rapporteur praised efforts to provide reparations to victims of Soviet repression, soldiers dead or incapacitated during the conflict, and their families, civilian victims of the conflict and victims or families of the 1 March 2008.

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the legislative measures recently adopted to outlaw the application of statues of limitations and amnesties for international crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and torture.

He further welcomed the plans to establish a fact-finding commission pursuant to the judicial and legal reform strategy and action plan for 2022–2026.

In conclusion, Armenia thanks for the recommendations contained in the report and looks forward to the continued cooperation in this regard.

I thank you.

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