Azerbaijan's Armed Forces Continue to Concentrate and Strengthen Positions Along Borders: Armenia's Representative to the UN

The Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations, Mhher Margaryan, addressed the general discussions of the First Committee of the UN's 77th General Assembly.

Margaryan stated, "Armenia reaffirms its strong commitment to the full and universal implementation of legally binding international obligations in the fields of non-proliferation of weapons, disarmament, arms control, and confidence-building and security-enhancing measures. The multilateral and effective implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons remains a cornerstone of international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technologies, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and achieve universal and comprehensive disarmament."

"For years, Armenia has adhered to the implementation of the legally binding Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. Unfortunately, the integrity of the conventional arms control regime has been seriously undermined due to periodic, deliberate, and widespread violations of its fundamental provisions by certain forces. The policy of using force for conflict resolution, inciting wars, radicalization under state leadership, and forming identities based on inhumane treatment of various nations and ethnic groups pose dangerous trends that harm global and regional peace and security. The United Nations must stand united in decisively rejecting the use of force or threats of force that violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in all cases."

Azerbaijan's aggressive actions against Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity are an immediate threat to peace and security in the South Caucasus region and beyond. Recently, on September 13, Azerbaijan launched a military attack targeting Armenia's eastern and southeastern regions, resulting in over 200 casualties, including among the civilian population. Approximately 8,000 people, mainly women, children, and the elderly, were temporarily displaced. Armenia's densely populated cities were under targeted fire, grossly violating the Geneva Conventions. These attacks followed aggressive actions in May, July, and November of 2021.

In gross violation of international humanitarian law, Azerbaijan has captured, tortured, and killed several Armenian servicemen, including women who have suffered the most heinous barbarities, including sexual and gender-based violence, execution, and mutilation. Disturbing videos of the barbaric extrajudicial executions of Armenian prisoners of war have widely circulated in the Azerbaijani domain of social media. Well-documented evidence of Azerbaijani military's criminal behavior is undeniable. It is increasingly urgent that all crimes be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible, including their military leaders, be held accountable.

Last week, on September 28, Azerbaijani occupying forces carried out yet another military provocation using mortars and heavy-caliber weapons, resulting in the deaths of three Armenian servicemen. Azerbaijani forces continue to concentrate and strengthen positions along the borders and in occupied territories of Armenia, posing a risk of further escalation. For years, Azerbaijan's non-compliance with conventional arms control agreements, the unannounced large-scale exercises, and consistent refusal to implement trust and security measures within the framework of regional agreements have demonstrated a clear intention to incite further military aggression in our region. Unfortunately, the absence of adequate responses and actions from relevant international and regional structures in response to Azerbaijan's evident non-compliance with its legally binding obligations has allowed it to continue its aggressive policy.

Armenia has brought the issue of Azerbaijan's recent attacks and incursions to the attention of the UN Security Council and will continue to voice this before the UN and its relevant bodies to hold them accountable for maintaining international peace and security, decisively condemning the criminal attacks against Armenia's territorial integrity and calling for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of forces from the territories of the Republic of Armenia. We are convinced that international bodies must be decisive in cases of systematic and gross violations of legally binding international obligations. The criminal practice of using force to seize territories or resolve international disputes should be unequivocally condemned, and violators should face appropriate sanctions.