Armenian FM: Baku continues pursuing a genocidal policy towards Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh

ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan delivered a speech at the UN Security  Council "New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism" Ministerial  Meeting.

According to the press service of the RA MFA, in his speech Mirzoyan  noted, in particular:

Mr. President, Excellences, Members of the Security Council, It is a  great pleasure to take part in today's discussions at the UN Security  Council, and I thank my dear colleague, External Affairs Minister of  India, for the invitation.  The Indian Presidency has chosen a very  timely and important topic for this open debate.  International  relations, as we've known them, appear to be in transition.

Global security crisis that we all are living in, heavily affected  the functioning of the system of multilateralism. Of course, there  can be an opinion to the contrary that malfunctioning of the  multilateral system resulted in the situation we are facing today.  It's like the story of the chicken and the egg; thus, I do believe,  it is more convenient to concentrate on the question of how  multilateralism should be reformed based on the lessons that ought to  be learnt.

If I'd try to define multilateralism in very simplistic terms, I'd  call it the "ability to reach and follow the commitments based on  compromise and mutual agreement". To find a common ground, we must  adhere to the universal red lines on which both-sided approach cannot  be tolerated. And these red lines are reflected first of all in the  Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Charter. This  important open debate will hopefully serve as food for thought in our  shared struggle to maintain and improve the multilateral system for  the sake of future generations.

Mr. President, Armenia is firmly committed to multilateralism anchored in the  purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,  including non-use of force or threat of force and peaceful resolution  of disputes.

In a world, where conflicts regrettably continue to persist,  prohibition of the use of force and strict adherence to peaceful  settlement of conflicts are indispensable to the maintenance of  international peace and security.

The United Nations must remain resilient to the detrimental practices  of imposing unilateral solutions and prioritizing violence over  peaceful settlement. Attempts to normalize the use of force in  interstate relations, to unleash wars and commit atrocities are  incompatible with the core values and objectives of the United  Nations and must be unequivocally condemned and rejected at all  times.

Strengthening the capacities of the UN and those of the Security  Council to prevent and respond to such disturbing challenges is  crucial for delivering on the objective of upholding international  peace and security.

Armenia supports efforts, including efforts of India, to reform the  institutions of multilateralism and to make the Security Council more  inclusive and effective in responding to the current and emerging  challenges and threats to the international peace and security.

Dear colleagues, Armenia has witnessed first-hand the effects of the  decline of multilateralism.  International community proved unable to  prevent the unjustified use of force of Azerbaijan against the people  of Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in thousands of dead, wounded and  a new wave of displacement.

The issue of rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Kharabakh  is still to be addressed. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh should be  able to live in dignity and peace in their own homeland.

The decline of multilateralism has manifested also in the inability  of the Security Council- mandated OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship to  fulfill its duties. One of the parties to the conflict essentially  blocks the activities of this format, moreover, unilaterally declares  that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been resolved by use of force,  thus hampering the potential solution of the conflict through  international mediation.

In the face of limited interest of the international community, the  security challenges in our region only grew. Armenian sovereign  territories have been continuously under attack. The last major  incident was in September this year, and we requested an emergency  meeting of the Security Council to assess the situation in full and  to remain seized on the matter.

The security situation, I regret to say, has not really seen any  significant improvements.  Despite the calls of the international  community, Azerbaijan continues to keep sovereign territories of  Armenia under occupation. We continue to face the growing military  rhetoric of Azerbaijan that openly threatens our sovereignty and  territorial integrity.  Two years since the cessation of the military  hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, the issue of return and repatriation  of the Armenian Prisoners of War remains unresolved. The Azerbaijani  side continues its manipulations in order to artificially  counterbalance the humanitarian issues and to turn the return of the  Armenian PoWs into a bargaining chip, which is totally unacceptable  and should not be tolerated by the international community.   Moreover, the international humanitarian bodies, including those of  the United Nations, are still unable to provide much needed aid to  the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, essentially leaving them behind, in  stark contrast to the global pledge of the 2030 Agenda for  Sustainable Development.

Ironically, not only international humanitarian organizations, but  even people living in Nagorno Karabakh are denied access. It is  already the third day that Azerbaijan, grossly violating its  international obligations, has blocked the movement through the  Lachin Corridor - the only lifeline of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is now  essentially cut off from Armenia and the outside world. As we speak,  the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been deprived of the right to  free movement: mothers are separated from their children, terminally  ill people can't get medical supplies and help. Even worse, in  freezing winter conditions, the gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh has  been severed by Azerbaijan.  Nagorno-Karabakh, dear colleagues, is  facing the imminent threat of food, energy and overall humanitarian  crisis which if not addressed urgently will lead into a catastrophe.   In such conditions, the leadership of Azerbaijan claims that they are  ready to provide rights and security guarantees for Armenians and  that no international mechanism or presence is required. What we have  at hand is illustrative of how they imagine these guarantees.

Along with Azerbaijan's refusal to hold dialogue with Stepanakert on  their rights and security this position testifies to the fact that  Baku continues pursuing a genocidal policy towards the Armenians of  Nagorno-Karabakh.

At the beginning of my speech, I highlighted the importance of  fulfilling commitments.  Both in case of Armenia-Azerbaijan  normalization process and the issue of Nagorno- Karabakh Azerbaijan  refuses to realize its own commitments, that were reached also in  multilateral formats. The actions, warmongering rhetoric and  maximalist approach of the leadership of Azerbaijan put the chance of  reaching peace and stability in the South Caucasus under a serious  risk.

Mr. President, Based on our own experience, we can argue that without  effective multilateralism the world will be devoid of peace and  security. Hence, we must all strive to devise better, more efficient  modus operandi in order to be able to prevent conflicts, genocides  and other mass atrocities and focus on peaceful, sustainable  development.  I thank you."