Armenia Aims to Turn the Page on Hostility and Establish Peace: Mirzoyan

Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech at the high-level segment of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

“Honorable Chair, ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to first extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Representative of Switzerland, Mr. Jürg Lauber, and to the entire Bureau of the Human Rights Council on their election. We wish you success and are ready to support your crucial mission.

Today, as the world continues to face brutal conflicts, violent displacements, and gross violations of fundamental rights, the urgency of strengthening the UN’s human rights pillar is more pertinent than ever. The scale and gravity of crimes and gross violations, as well as our collective inability to effectively prevent and ensure accountability, jeopardize the entirety of the fundamental values on which the United Nations and its human rights system are built—fundamental norms that all of us have accepted without reservation.

Under these circumstances, the role and visibility of the human rights system have dramatically increased. More and more individuals, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders are engaging with the Human Rights Council, referencing Special Procedures, and mechanisms of treaty bodies. This demonstrates that the human rights pillar continues to be a source of hope and inspiration for millions of people, including our citizens.

Mr. President,

I proudly note that even during the most trying times, Armenia continues to make progress in strengthening its democratic institutions and independence of the judiciary and combating corruption to build a more equal and just society. Recently, we established a national mechanism aimed at enhancing international accountability in the field of human rights and ensuring subsequent steps, and we regard it as an important domestic tool to ensure a rights-based approach across all areas of policy.

This year, Armenia will present its 4th Universal Periodic Report, which has been summarized based on numerous consultations among state and non-state actors.

Armenia remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights at both domestic and global levels. We seek to provide platforms for different opinions and find solutions to the most pressing human rights and humanitarian issues.

In this context, last December, Armenia hosted the 5th Global Forum “Against the Crime of Genocide.” The forum brought together officials, prominent experts, representatives of international organizations, UN special procedure mandate holders, civil society, and academia to discuss the role of small states in shaping and advancing the prevention agenda and explore the development of UN early warning and rapid response mechanisms with a focus on improving operational and political coherence.

Participants also discussed the functions and roles of various regional and global organizations, as well as global judicial bodies, and the gaps in the overall multilateral architecture.

Armenia also hosted the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations, placing the protection of cultural heritage at the center of discussions.

The coming year will be crucial for our commitments to promoting global environmental goals, as the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity will take place in Armenia. We prioritize organizing an inclusive conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Armenia's presidency will strive to organize an effective conference with full and meaningful participation, including civil society, academic communities, indigenous peoples, local communities, women, youth organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

Armenia looks forward to collaborating with UN member states, civil societies, and non-governmental organizations to ensure the effective organization of this critical international environmental conference and to return global environmental processes to a path of sustainable development, ensuring genuine inclusiveness in terms of multi-stakeholder participation.

Mr. President,

One year ago during my speech, I elaborated on the challenges facing Armenia. Unfortunately, many of these challenges remain unresolved, despite the enormous efforts made by my country. Statements from our eastern neighbor continue to cast doubt on Armenia's territorial integrity, despite mutual recognition of territorial integrity based on the 1991 Almaty Declaration, which reaffirmed, among other things, that the administrative boundaries of the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijani SSR became the international borders of independent republics.

Moreover, at this very moment, there are sham trials underway in Azerbaijan against 23 Armenian individuals, who are arbitrarily imprisoned, disregarding the human rights standards necessary for due process.

One year ago, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights informed this Council that his office had dispatched two missions to Armenia to gather information regarding the situation of over 115,000 ethnic Armenians. We are convinced that the results of these missions will be a vital contribution to advancing reconciliation efforts.

The Republic of Armenia, committed to establishing peace and stability in our region, has made several constructive proposals to the Azerbaijani side, including a peace treaty, opening transport infrastructures, mutual arms control, and verification mechanisms, considering the necessity for a strategic agreement that addresses all core issues. We are confident that constructive responses from both parties, further engagement, and a demonstration of political will will greatly contribute to opening a new era of peace in our region.

In this context, I would like to reaffirm the willingness of the Armenian side to turn the page on hostility and establish institutionalized peace. We are not only ready for this, but we will also not deviate from this path.

Thank you,” said Mirzoyan.