Pashinyan Addresses UN about War and Azerbaijani Aggression, States Armenia Ready for Dialogue

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, discussing the numerous gross violations of international norms by Azerbaijani armed forces during the 44-day war, as well as the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian people in areas under Azerbaijani control.

“In the autumn of 2020, Nagorno-Karabakh was subjected to aggression. The war, lasting forty-four days, claimed the lives of thousands of people and displaced tens of thousands of residents from Nagorno-Karabakh. The aggression was accompanied by numerous gross violations of international norms by the Azerbaijani armed forces, including the deliberate targeting of civilian populations and critical infrastructure, extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war and civilian hostages, torture of them, and other documented criminal acts. As a result of these actions, the Armenian people in the areas of Nagorno-Karabakh that came under Azerbaijani control faced complete ethnic cleansing. Unfortunately, the international community failed to prevent these mass atrocities,” the Prime Minister stated. “Today, no Armenian can live and practically cannot survive in the territories under Azerbaijani control.”

Pashinyan recalled that due to the mediation efforts of the Russian Federation, bloodshed was halted. “On November 9, a tripartite statement on the ceasefire was signed. Russian peacekeeping forces were deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh, which today act as a guarantor of stability and security in the region,” added Pashinyan.

He also extended congratulations to Abdul Shahid on being elected President of the General Assembly and to Antonio Guterres for being re-elected as UN Secretary-General, expressing confidence that under their leadership, significant challenges could be addressed.

In his speech, Pashinyan emphasized the need to open a new era of peaceful development for Armenia and the region, a goal endorsed by the Armenian people during the June 20, 2021 parliamentary elections, held to overcome the political crisis in the country.

“We are ready to overcome the atmosphere of hostility bitterly present in our region through dialogue. We understand that the path will be difficult and long. Unfortunately, even today, almost daily events occur aimed at delegitimizing the peace agenda, deepening the atmosphere of hostility, and making it more systematic,” he stated.

Pashinyan highlighted that violations of the ceasefire and aggressive statements against Armenia and the Armenian people continue to escalate tensions. “The actions directed against the peace agenda, despite paragraph 8 of the November 9 statement, mean that Azerbaijan still holds several dozen citizens of the Republic of Armenia in captivity,” he explained.

Discussing the need for urgent resolution of vital issues, Pashinyan reiterated Armenia's readiness for constructive dialogue to achieve lasting peace in the region. He called for the swift conclusion of the process for the return of prisoners of war and other detained individuals and the resumption of the peace process for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Concluding his address, Pashinyan reaffirmed Armenia's commitment to contribute to the strengthening of a multilateral international legal order, international cooperation based on the principles and goals of the UN Charter, and the promotion of sustainable development and the protection of fundamental human rights.

“Armenia is ready to make every effort to address contemporary global challenges such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, issues of international peace and security, and sustainable development,” he stated before ending his speech.

Thank you for your attention.