Monday, August 14 2023 13:08

ArmInfo.Armenian NGOs have appealed to the U.S. Security Council prior to its meeting convened  at Armenia's suggestion.  

Below is a statement by the NGOs: 

Dear Representatives of States - Members of the UN Security Council,  Following our previous communications from 26 May and 28 July, 2023,  with a view of the upcoming session of the UN Security Council to be  convened upon the request of the Armenian government we,  representatives of the active civil society organizations in Armenia,  appeal again to the States - Members of the UN Security Council to  take the responsibility to protect the Armenian people in  Nagorno-Karabakh from genocide and ethnic cleansing organized by  Azerbaijan. 

The risks for these crimes are real and the implementation is  underway, as proved by international independent criminal law  experts, genocide scholars and specialized organizations.

In case such tragedy happens to Armenian people again - in the 21st  century, the responsibility largely lies with the members of the UN  Security Council and the actual patronage of the state - perpetrator  of the international crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

We urge that the Security Council:

? Pass a resolution that condemns the blockade and demands Azerbaijan  to urgently open the Lachin corridor and insure unimpeded movement of  persons, vehicles and cargo along the corridor in both directions, in  line with the ICJ order from February 2023;

? Take urgent measures to ensure international peacekeeping mission  inside NagornoKarabakh and Lachin corridor to ensure the security of  the Armenian population beyond November 2025 - before the end of the  term of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, prescribed in November  10, 2020 trilateral statement, until the durable settlement of the  conflict is achieved;

? Request the UN Secretary General to commission a fact-finding  mission to the region to assess the situation on the ground; and to  appoint Secretary General's Special Representative on the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to ensure longer-term presence in the  region;

? Request the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to deploy a  fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to assess the situation on  the ground and present a comprehensive report to the UN Security  Council; and to utilize all pertinent UN human rights mechanisms,  including Special Advisors and Special Rapporteurs, to promptly  generate reports on the human rights, humanitarian, and human  security conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh;

? Condemn Azerbaijan's policy of ethnic hatred against Armenians  reflected in ICJ order from December 2021, which puts at risk any  efforts aimed at establishment of peace and security in the region;

? Ensure access of media representatives as well as missions of  independent human rights organizations to the region to examine the  situation and provide the international audience with objective  information. 

Signed by: 1. Sona Ayvazyan, Transparency International  Anticorruption Center NGO 2. Naira Sultanyan, Democracy Development  Foundation 3. Seda Muradyan, Public Journalism Club NGO 4. Genya  Petrosyan, Law Development and Protection Foundation 5. Araks  Melkonyan, Protection of Rights without Borders NGO 6. Artur Sakunts,  Helsinki Citizens Assembly - Vanadzor 7. Gayane Abrahamyan, "For  Equal Rights" NGO 8. Edgar Khachatryan, "Peace Dialogue" NG 9. Levon  Barseghyan, Journalists' Club "Asparez" NGO 10. Lara Aharonyan,  Womens' Resource Center 11. Inga Zarafyan, "EcoLur" Informational NGO  12. Mamikon Hovsepyan, "PINK" Human Rights Defender NGO 13. Nina  Karapetyants, Helsinki Association for Human Rights 14. Tamara  Gevorgyan, "Center for Perspective Development" NGO 15. Oleg  Dulgaryan, Centre for community mobilization and support NGO 16.  Daniel Ioannisyan, "Union of Informed Citizens" NGO 17. Hovsep  Khurshudyan, "Free Citizen" Civic Initiatives Support Center NGO 18.  Gevorg Ghukasyan, "Restart Gyumri" Youth Civic Center NGO 19. Anahit  Simonyan, Human Rights Research Center 20. Boris Navasardyan, Yerevan  Press Club 21. Nouneh Sarkissian, Media Initiatives Center 22. Artur  Papyan, Media Diversity Institute - Armenia