Friday, October 27 2023 12:04

ArmInfo.The RA NA Vice President Hakob Arshakyan gave a speech at the 147th Assembly of the  Inter-Parliamentary Union. In his speech the NA Vice President noted:

"Madam President,

Excellences, heads of the Parliaments

Fellow parliamentarians,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I wish to thank our Angolan hosts for the excellent organization of  the Assembly and warm hospitality extended to all delegates.

The 16th goal of sustainable development is dedicated to promoting  peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for  all, and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions  at all levels.

However, ongoing, and new violent conflicts around the world are  derailing the global path to peace and achievement of Goal 16.  Alarmingly, the year 2022 witnessed more than 50 per cent increase in  conflict- related civilian deaths - the first since the adoption of  Agenda 2030.

High level of armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact  on a country's development.

Dear Colleagues,

While speaking about peace and justice let me address the situation  in the South Caucasus region.

On 19 September unfortunately Azerbaijan launched one more  large-scale aggression against the people of Nagorno Karabakh  violating international law and the Trilateral Statement of 9  November 2020 which they signed.

The military attack showcased that the goal was to finalize the  ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population from Nagorno Karabakh, as  well as involving the Republic of Armenia into a new war. The  aggression resulted in hundreds of victims and injured, including  civilian population, women and children. Over one hundred thousand  people were forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia.

It is sad, extremely sad, that despite hundreds of alarms, decisions  of the International Court of Justice, resolutions of the European  Parliament, PACE and the parliaments of individual countries, appeals  of executive bodies, the international community, we all were unable  to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The attack followed more than nine months of blockade of the Lachin  corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and  the rest of the world. Blockade affected electricity, gas, food and  medical supplies, emergency healthcare. The International Court of  Justice made two rulings on lifting the blockade and opening the  Corridor. However, these rulings were never implemented by  Azerbaijan.  This was the prelude to the ethnic cleansing that  reached its aim in the following days.

The government of Armenia and people did everything to receive and  shelter more than 100,000 Armenians - victims of the ethnic cleansing  in Nagorno Karabakh. We could receive them due to the people of  Armenia and democracy.

People, because sometimes they did not wait for what the government  would do. They provided their forcibly displaced compatriots with  essential goods and temporary shelter. And the democracy, because due  to Democracy and open economy non-corrupt government we had enough  economy growth to support 100,000 people of Nagorno Karabakh.

We are grateful to our international partners, which have already  made and/or will continue to make allocations aimed at overcoming the  humanitarian crisis caused by the forced displacement of Nagorno  Karabakh Armenians.

Around 150km square still stands occupied by Azerbaijan due to  aggression against internationally recognized sovereign territory  Armenia.

Armenia does not have territorial claims to its neighbors, Armenia is  committed to peace agenda in the region. Armenia's position is to  establish peaceful relations based on the mutual recognition of  sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Armenia and Azerbaijan should open their roads for each other, border  and other relevant control services should operate, based on the  jurisdiction, sovereignty, and legislation of the countries. This  should be done based on the principle of reciprocity and equality:  Stretching from East to the West, the Caspian Sea to the  Mediterranean, North to South, from the Persian Gulf to the Black  Sea. We name this project the Crossroads of Peace.

Armenia is ready to ensure the safety of cargo, vehicles, people,  pipelines, electric lines in its territory, because the Crossroads of  Peace implies the passage of pipelines and power lines as well. We  call on international partners to take part in this large-scale  project.

The peace agenda in our region does not have an alternative. We are  committed to the path of democracy to achieve a stable and lasting  peace. We are resolute in our choice and are looking forward to the  support by our international partners.

Thank you very much for your attention."