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H.E. MR. EDWARD NALBANDIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 67TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
http://www.mfa.am/en/speeches/item/2012/10/01/67sesion/
01.10.2012
by H.E. Mr. Edward NALBANDIAN
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
at the General Debate
of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly
New York, 1 October 2012
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to join the previous speakers in congratulating Vuk
Jeremic on his election as the President of the 67th Session of
the General Assembly. I would also like to extend our thanks to the
outgoing President, Nasser Abdulaziz Al-Nasser.
This session of the General Assembly is an invaluable opportunity to
bring together the United Nations member states in order to examine
the challenges facing humanity and to join efforts to effectively
address them and to realize internationally agreed goals. We all
know that when decisions are based on common understanding, their
implementation and success are more promising.
Armenia has committed itself to the strengthening of the institutional
capacities of the United Nations. We support the United Nations reform
processes and are ready to bring our feasible contribution to them. We
believe that the reforms are an opportunity to make the role of the
UN stronger on crucial issues facing the world and to accomplish both
the Millennium Development and Sustainable Development Goals.
We welcome the fact that along with the agenda of the sixty-seventh
session that encompasses the pressing issues of joint responsibility
for maintenance of international peace, security, it is proposed to
focus during this session on the settlement of disputes by peaceful
means.
In this context we consider the goals of disarmament and arms control
as major elements of global and regional security systems. We must also
shoulder the responsibility to work together to counter militaristic
threats.
Few days ago, in the framework of the UN the first-ever High-Level
Forum on Culture of Peace took place urging for tolerance and building
mutual understanding and mutual respect. Unfortunately nowadays hate
and intolerance are continuing to spread in some parts of the world
and we have yet to dig into the roots and causes of such situation,
to have the courage to openly ask difficult questions on the reasons
and face sometimes painful responses.
Mr. President,
Regrettably, we have witnessed intolerance and hatred in our part of
the world, too. Year after year Armenia has been raising its concerns
from this podium over the militaristic rhetoric, blatant violation of
international commitments and anti-Armenian hysteria being instilled
into the Azerbaijani society from the highest levels of its leadership.
Many international organizations on human rights alerted about flagrant
cases of xenophobia, racism, intolerance and violations of human rights
in Azerbaijan, alerted on the policy of hatred against Armenians.
What is the Azerbaijani response? It is not only ignoring the
expectations of the international community, but is constantly making
new and new steps going against the values of civilized world. The
latest such case is the Azeri government's release and glorification
of the murderer Safarov, who had slaughtered with an axe an Armenian
officer in his sleep, during a NATO program in Budapest simply because
he was an Armenian. The Azerbaijani leadership made him a symbol of
national pride and an example to follow by youth. The world reaction
was unanimous and very clear in condemning what was done by Baku.
Azerbaijan expresses bewilderment on the stance of the international
community. And what did they expect? That the international community
would applaud the glorification of a heinous murderer? Azerbaijani
leadership is continuing to pretend that this act corresponds not
only to the Azerbaijani constitution and legislation, but also to the
norms and principles of international law, the respective European
Convention. The leadership of this country is claiming that what
was done is just very good. It is very sad that the constitution and
legislation of any country could allow the heroization of a murderer
and salary payment for the years passed in prison by brutal criminal.
The Council of Europe Commissioner of Human Rights warned that "to
glorify and reward such a person flies in the face of all accepted
standards for human rights protection and rule of law". The European
Parliament President and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe President alerted about the abuse of the European legal
instrument. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
said that "ethnically motivated hate crimes of this gravity should
be deplored and properly punished - not publicly glorified".
It is very clear that there are different perceptions about
international legal principles and laws, different perceptions in
Azerbaijan and the rest of the world about what is good and what is
bad. This is deeply irresponsible and shameful behavior of not only
a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, but a member of
the UN.
It is clear that international community should not tolerate the
attempts of the Azerbaijani leadership to adjust the international
law to their own racist ideology. Having a rich internal experience in
corruption Baku is attempting to transfer it to interstate relations
exploiting it as a tool to impose its own misperceptions on others.
The international community could not tolerate the attempts of
Azerbaijan to replace the rule of law with the rule of oil.
Safarov's scandalous affair has seriously undermined the
Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process and endangered the fragile
regional security and stability.
Azerbaijan poses a threat to the security and stability in the region
by its constantly menacing to use force against Nagorno-Karabakh and
Armenia along with unprovoked daily war-mongering by its leadership,
by not only rejecting the proposals of the three Co-Chair countries
on the consolidation of the ceasefire agreement, on the creation of
a mechanism of investigation of incidents on the line of contact, but
also by systematic ceasefire violations not only on the contact line
between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, but also by provocations on
the border with Armenia, by ceaseless acts of vandalism towards the
Armenian historical and cultural heritage.
While Armenia together with the international mediators is exerting
efforts around the table of negotiations, Azerbaijan is multiplying
its military budget, increasing it more than twentyfold during the last
few years, and boasting about it. While Armenia and the international
community are calling for withdrawal of snipers from the line of
contact, Azerbaijani leaders are rejecting it and opening sniper
schools for the youth. While Armenia is calling for regional economic
cooperation, which could become a tool for increasing confidence
between the parties, Azerbaijani authorities are declaring that
together with Turkey, they will continue the blockade until there
are no more Armenians in Armenia.
Armenia and the international community are speaking in one language
regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The documents on the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict adopted in the frameworks of the OSCE
Astana Summit of 2010 and Ministerial Conferences of Helsinki 2008,
Athens 2009, Almaty 2010, Vilnius 2011, the statements of Presidents of
the Co-Chair countries in the frameworks of the G8 Summits in L'Aquila
in 2009, in Muskoka in 2010, in Deauville in 2011 and during the G20
Summit 2012 in Los Cabos are proofs of that. Armenia's position is
in line with these documents, is in line with the position of the
international community - to go for the settlement on this basis.
Despite the intensive efforts of the three Co-Chair countries it has
been impossible to reach a breakthrough in the conflict resolution,
because the Azerbaijani side rejected one after another all proposals
presented by the mediators.
Regardless of Azerbaijan's destructive stance, Armenia will continue to
exert efforts towards the settlement of the Karabakh issue exclusively
through peaceful means and on the basis of the purposes, principles
and norms reflected in the UN Charter and the international law.
Mr. President,
As many speakers, I should also express our concerns about the
developments and worsening of the humanitarian situation in Syria,
which directly affects also the large Armenian community in this
country. This community was formed mainly by the survivors of the
Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the 20th
century. Today they are struggling for life as many Syrian citizens.
Armenia is continuing to receive refugees from Syria that are full
of worries about the escalation of violence in this country. It is
impossible to reach a durable settlement without the cessation of
hostilities by all parties and without an inclusive political dialogue
taking into account the interests of all Syrians.
Mr. President,
The United Nations will mark the 65th anniversary of the Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide next
year. That anniversary will become an important landmark to make it
more effective instrument in combatting the crimes of genocide. The
denial of genocide and impunity pave way for the repetition of new
crimes against humanity. As descendants of the nation that survived the
horrors of the first genocide of the 20th century we are convinced that
independent of any kind of considerations, the international community
should stand together in the recognition and strong condemnation of
genocides to be able to prevent them. It is due to the absence of
this unanimity that humanity witnesses new attempts of crimes against
humanity. Our strong conviction is that we should keep this issue
high on our common agenda. We should recommit ourselves to a world
where the crime of genocide would never occur again.
Mr. President,
Armenia shares its part of our common responsibility to support the
United Nations as the stage of dialogue, multilateralism and collective
action to address the multiple challenges of today's world.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.mfa.am/en/speeches/item/2012/10/01/67sesion/
01.10.2012
by H.E. Mr. Edward NALBANDIAN
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
at the General Debate
of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly
New York, 1 October 2012
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to join the previous speakers in congratulating Vuk
Jeremic on his election as the President of the 67th Session of
the General Assembly. I would also like to extend our thanks to the
outgoing President, Nasser Abdulaziz Al-Nasser.
This session of the General Assembly is an invaluable opportunity to
bring together the United Nations member states in order to examine
the challenges facing humanity and to join efforts to effectively
address them and to realize internationally agreed goals. We all
know that when decisions are based on common understanding, their
implementation and success are more promising.
Armenia has committed itself to the strengthening of the institutional
capacities of the United Nations. We support the United Nations reform
processes and are ready to bring our feasible contribution to them. We
believe that the reforms are an opportunity to make the role of the
UN stronger on crucial issues facing the world and to accomplish both
the Millennium Development and Sustainable Development Goals.
We welcome the fact that along with the agenda of the sixty-seventh
session that encompasses the pressing issues of joint responsibility
for maintenance of international peace, security, it is proposed to
focus during this session on the settlement of disputes by peaceful
means.
In this context we consider the goals of disarmament and arms control
as major elements of global and regional security systems. We must also
shoulder the responsibility to work together to counter militaristic
threats.
Few days ago, in the framework of the UN the first-ever High-Level
Forum on Culture of Peace took place urging for tolerance and building
mutual understanding and mutual respect. Unfortunately nowadays hate
and intolerance are continuing to spread in some parts of the world
and we have yet to dig into the roots and causes of such situation,
to have the courage to openly ask difficult questions on the reasons
and face sometimes painful responses.
Mr. President,
Regrettably, we have witnessed intolerance and hatred in our part of
the world, too. Year after year Armenia has been raising its concerns
from this podium over the militaristic rhetoric, blatant violation of
international commitments and anti-Armenian hysteria being instilled
into the Azerbaijani society from the highest levels of its leadership.
Many international organizations on human rights alerted about flagrant
cases of xenophobia, racism, intolerance and violations of human rights
in Azerbaijan, alerted on the policy of hatred against Armenians.
What is the Azerbaijani response? It is not only ignoring the
expectations of the international community, but is constantly making
new and new steps going against the values of civilized world. The
latest such case is the Azeri government's release and glorification
of the murderer Safarov, who had slaughtered with an axe an Armenian
officer in his sleep, during a NATO program in Budapest simply because
he was an Armenian. The Azerbaijani leadership made him a symbol of
national pride and an example to follow by youth. The world reaction
was unanimous and very clear in condemning what was done by Baku.
Azerbaijan expresses bewilderment on the stance of the international
community. And what did they expect? That the international community
would applaud the glorification of a heinous murderer? Azerbaijani
leadership is continuing to pretend that this act corresponds not
only to the Azerbaijani constitution and legislation, but also to the
norms and principles of international law, the respective European
Convention. The leadership of this country is claiming that what
was done is just very good. It is very sad that the constitution and
legislation of any country could allow the heroization of a murderer
and salary payment for the years passed in prison by brutal criminal.
The Council of Europe Commissioner of Human Rights warned that "to
glorify and reward such a person flies in the face of all accepted
standards for human rights protection and rule of law". The European
Parliament President and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe President alerted about the abuse of the European legal
instrument. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
said that "ethnically motivated hate crimes of this gravity should
be deplored and properly punished - not publicly glorified".
It is very clear that there are different perceptions about
international legal principles and laws, different perceptions in
Azerbaijan and the rest of the world about what is good and what is
bad. This is deeply irresponsible and shameful behavior of not only
a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, but a member of
the UN.
It is clear that international community should not tolerate the
attempts of the Azerbaijani leadership to adjust the international
law to their own racist ideology. Having a rich internal experience in
corruption Baku is attempting to transfer it to interstate relations
exploiting it as a tool to impose its own misperceptions on others.
The international community could not tolerate the attempts of
Azerbaijan to replace the rule of law with the rule of oil.
Safarov's scandalous affair has seriously undermined the
Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process and endangered the fragile
regional security and stability.
Azerbaijan poses a threat to the security and stability in the region
by its constantly menacing to use force against Nagorno-Karabakh and
Armenia along with unprovoked daily war-mongering by its leadership,
by not only rejecting the proposals of the three Co-Chair countries
on the consolidation of the ceasefire agreement, on the creation of
a mechanism of investigation of incidents on the line of contact, but
also by systematic ceasefire violations not only on the contact line
between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, but also by provocations on
the border with Armenia, by ceaseless acts of vandalism towards the
Armenian historical and cultural heritage.
While Armenia together with the international mediators is exerting
efforts around the table of negotiations, Azerbaijan is multiplying
its military budget, increasing it more than twentyfold during the last
few years, and boasting about it. While Armenia and the international
community are calling for withdrawal of snipers from the line of
contact, Azerbaijani leaders are rejecting it and opening sniper
schools for the youth. While Armenia is calling for regional economic
cooperation, which could become a tool for increasing confidence
between the parties, Azerbaijani authorities are declaring that
together with Turkey, they will continue the blockade until there
are no more Armenians in Armenia.
Armenia and the international community are speaking in one language
regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The documents on the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict adopted in the frameworks of the OSCE
Astana Summit of 2010 and Ministerial Conferences of Helsinki 2008,
Athens 2009, Almaty 2010, Vilnius 2011, the statements of Presidents of
the Co-Chair countries in the frameworks of the G8 Summits in L'Aquila
in 2009, in Muskoka in 2010, in Deauville in 2011 and during the G20
Summit 2012 in Los Cabos are proofs of that. Armenia's position is
in line with these documents, is in line with the position of the
international community - to go for the settlement on this basis.
Despite the intensive efforts of the three Co-Chair countries it has
been impossible to reach a breakthrough in the conflict resolution,
because the Azerbaijani side rejected one after another all proposals
presented by the mediators.
Regardless of Azerbaijan's destructive stance, Armenia will continue to
exert efforts towards the settlement of the Karabakh issue exclusively
through peaceful means and on the basis of the purposes, principles
and norms reflected in the UN Charter and the international law.
Mr. President,
As many speakers, I should also express our concerns about the
developments and worsening of the humanitarian situation in Syria,
which directly affects also the large Armenian community in this
country. This community was formed mainly by the survivors of the
Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the 20th
century. Today they are struggling for life as many Syrian citizens.
Armenia is continuing to receive refugees from Syria that are full
of worries about the escalation of violence in this country. It is
impossible to reach a durable settlement without the cessation of
hostilities by all parties and without an inclusive political dialogue
taking into account the interests of all Syrians.
Mr. President,
The United Nations will mark the 65th anniversary of the Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide next
year. That anniversary will become an important landmark to make it
more effective instrument in combatting the crimes of genocide. The
denial of genocide and impunity pave way for the repetition of new
crimes against humanity. As descendants of the nation that survived the
horrors of the first genocide of the 20th century we are convinced that
independent of any kind of considerations, the international community
should stand together in the recognition and strong condemnation of
genocides to be able to prevent them. It is due to the absence of
this unanimity that humanity witnesses new attempts of crimes against
humanity. Our strong conviction is that we should keep this issue
high on our common agenda. We should recommit ourselves to a world
where the crime of genocide would never occur again.
Mr. President,
Armenia shares its part of our common responsibility to support the
United Nations as the stage of dialogue, multilateralism and collective
action to address the multiple challenges of today's world.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress