Monday, August 21 2023 19:13

ArmInfo. Ani Badalyan, Spokesperson for Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, answered  questions by media outlets. 

Question: On August 16, an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council  was held regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.  The countries expressed their positions, but it was not reflected in  any document. Why was there no decision made, no document adopted?  Did Armenia present such a document?

Answer: As we have already noted, we highly appreciate the principled  positions voiced so far by our partners, international bodies during  this and the previous meeting of the UN Security Council held in  December, as well as on other international platforms, which are in  line with the primary mandate of the UN Security Council of  maintenance of international security and peace, the universal values  of human rights protection and, perhaps what is the most urgent at  the moment, the understanding of the need to prevent Azerbaijan's  aggressive actions and a new humanitarian catastrophe in  Nagorno-Karabakh.

Procedurally, the format of the emergency meeting of the UN Security  Council is a discussion, it does not directly imply adoption of a  document (resolution or statement). In addition, the 15 (permanent  and non- permanent) members of the UN Security Council have the right  to submit and initiate voting of draft resolutions of the UN Security  Council. Not being a member of the UN Security Council, Armenia does  not have such authority.

The discussion in the format of the UN Security Council provides an  important platform, an opportunity to focus the attention of the  international community on the possible catastrophic consequences of  the situation, to activate the Council's efforts to address it and to  foster their possible coordination and to outline the further steps.

Question: Is that the end of the process?

Answer: By no means. This is an ongoing process. The Ministry of  Foreign Affairs of Armenia continues its activities in the UN and  other platforms. Today, the international community, the members of  the UN Security Council interested in real, lasting stability in the  region must take clear steps, unite efforts in order to lead the  developed understanding regarding the importance of reopening the  Lachin corridor and the immediate resolution of the problem with  effective use of existing mechanisms.

Question: Why was the emergency meeting of August 16 convened under  the title "The letter of September 13 of the Permanent Representative  of Armenia to the UN addressed to the President of the UN Security  Council"? Why wasn't a new letter or application sent by Armenia?

Answer: After Armenia's request to the UN Security Council after  Azerbaijan's aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia in  September 2022, a relevant agenda point of the UN Security Council  was formed under the title you indicated. This is an accepted  practice in the UN Security Council and has a very simple technical  justification - not to burden the Security Council agenda with  different formulations of the same or very similar issues.

I would like to emphasise that, in the letter of September 13th,  Armenia brought to the attention of the UN Security Council the  letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs which indicated  Azerbaijan's armed attack and the ongoing aggressive actions against  both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh highlighting that they threaten  international peace and security.

Later, starting from December 2022, discussions regarding the  blockade of the Lachin corridor and the humanitarian crisis in  Nagorno-Karabakh took place with reference to the mentioned letter  and under the relevant agenda point.

It is noteworthy that ahead of the both meetings in December 2022 and  in August this year, Armenia presented concrete requests, letters to  the attention of the members of the UN Security Council aimed at  raising the issue of the blockade of the Lachin corridor. In  addition, several dozen letters were distributed addressing the  blockade and the humanitarian crisis both in the UN Security Council,  the General Assembly, and other international platforms.