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ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
12:33, 04 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian made a statement at the
High Level Segment of the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
in Geneva:
Mr. President, Mr. High Commissioner, Distinguished Members of the
Human Rights Council, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to join previous speakers in congratulating Ambassador Rucker
on his election as the President of the Human Rights Council, and to
wish him success in this important endeavor.
As the Foreign Minister of Armenia, it is of particular significance
for me to address Human Rights Council, today, since this year, in the
whole world the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide is commemorated.
Mr. President,
In recent years, the Human Rights Council has expanded the thematic
scope of its work to respond to gross violations of human rights
in various parts of the world drawing attention to the issues of
protection of the most vulnerable groups. The protection of religious
and ethnic minorities requires the urgent attention and actions
of international community, due to massive human rights violations
perpetrated by the terrorist groups.
Less than a week ago we all saw the chilling video footage of how
the ISIS militants were smashing the 2.700 years old statues in
the Mosul museum. This crime against civilization is an appalling
reminder of earlier similar barbaric acts of destruction of Bamian
Budda's statues, Mausoleums of Timbuktu and thousands of Medieval
Armenian cross-stones in Nakhijevan. Barbarism has declared a war
against the civilized world.
Intolerance towards the values of civilization belonging to others,
damaging or destroying cultural or religious heritage must be
resolutely denounced by the international community.
Armenia has unequivocally condemned the atrocities and violence
committed by ISIS, Al Nusra, other terrorist groups and called on the
international community to take firm actions against this new scourge,
preventing the terrorists to profit from the flow of foreign fighters
and financial assets, and to initiate cross-border attacks, using the
territories of neighboring states. In this regard, Armenia strongly
supports the full implementation of the appropriate UN Security
Council resolutions.
The destruction by those terrorists, of the Saint Martyrs Armenian
Church in Syrian town of Deir el-Zor, which was a sanctuary for
the remains of many victims of the Armenian Genocide is a sad, yet
symbolic link between past and present crimes against humanity.
Indeed, the very concept of "crimes against humanity" entered the
international legal system on May 24th, 1915 in a special declaration
by the Allied Powers - Russia, France and Great Britain, who warned
the perpetrators of the atrocities against the Armenian people.
Mr. President,
The protection of human rights is by nature a permanent and ongoing
process. On January 22nd of this year Armenia presented its second
UPR report to the Human Rights Council. Since Armenia's first review
cycle the National Strategy on Human Rights Protection and various
National Action Plans were adopted. There have been significant
positive developments regarding Armenia's compliance with human rights
instruments. According to international reports, Armenia has real
achievements, inter alia, in democratic reforms, good governance,
human rights records, freedom of expression, free media and internet,
freedom of assembly.
Mr. President,
The Human Rights Council has been playing a crucial role in
mainstreaming the obligations of states emanating from the Genocide
Convention into systematic protection of human rights and adoption
of the resolutions on the genocide prevention.
This year Armenia has again initiated a resolution on the genocide
prevention. There is a growing consensus of the international community
that the genocide prevention always requires the constant attention
and best efforts of the civilized world without subordinating that
noble cause to geopolitical calculations.
All members of the international community should stand together in
their efforts to prevent the crime of genocide and we call upon all
member states to support this resolution, in the same way, as it was
done two years ago.
Mr. President,
Today I recall the words of Andrei Sakharov on the uniting power of
Human Rights: "I am convinced that the idea of human rights protection
is sole ground that can unite people regardless of their nationality,
political convictions, religion or their position in the society..."
Indeed this is an important message and a benchmark for future
actions aimed at creating a world without war, dividing lines and
racist ideology, a world with firm belief that human rights can and
should bring people together and this is the ultimate raison d'etre
of the Human Rights Council.
Thank you.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/03/04/armenian-foreign-minister-addresses-un-human-rights-council/
From: A. Papazian
12:33, 04 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian made a statement at the
High Level Segment of the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
in Geneva:
Mr. President, Mr. High Commissioner, Distinguished Members of the
Human Rights Council, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to join previous speakers in congratulating Ambassador Rucker
on his election as the President of the Human Rights Council, and to
wish him success in this important endeavor.
As the Foreign Minister of Armenia, it is of particular significance
for me to address Human Rights Council, today, since this year, in the
whole world the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide is commemorated.
Mr. President,
In recent years, the Human Rights Council has expanded the thematic
scope of its work to respond to gross violations of human rights
in various parts of the world drawing attention to the issues of
protection of the most vulnerable groups. The protection of religious
and ethnic minorities requires the urgent attention and actions
of international community, due to massive human rights violations
perpetrated by the terrorist groups.
Less than a week ago we all saw the chilling video footage of how
the ISIS militants were smashing the 2.700 years old statues in
the Mosul museum. This crime against civilization is an appalling
reminder of earlier similar barbaric acts of destruction of Bamian
Budda's statues, Mausoleums of Timbuktu and thousands of Medieval
Armenian cross-stones in Nakhijevan. Barbarism has declared a war
against the civilized world.
Intolerance towards the values of civilization belonging to others,
damaging or destroying cultural or religious heritage must be
resolutely denounced by the international community.
Armenia has unequivocally condemned the atrocities and violence
committed by ISIS, Al Nusra, other terrorist groups and called on the
international community to take firm actions against this new scourge,
preventing the terrorists to profit from the flow of foreign fighters
and financial assets, and to initiate cross-border attacks, using the
territories of neighboring states. In this regard, Armenia strongly
supports the full implementation of the appropriate UN Security
Council resolutions.
The destruction by those terrorists, of the Saint Martyrs Armenian
Church in Syrian town of Deir el-Zor, which was a sanctuary for
the remains of many victims of the Armenian Genocide is a sad, yet
symbolic link between past and present crimes against humanity.
Indeed, the very concept of "crimes against humanity" entered the
international legal system on May 24th, 1915 in a special declaration
by the Allied Powers - Russia, France and Great Britain, who warned
the perpetrators of the atrocities against the Armenian people.
Mr. President,
The protection of human rights is by nature a permanent and ongoing
process. On January 22nd of this year Armenia presented its second
UPR report to the Human Rights Council. Since Armenia's first review
cycle the National Strategy on Human Rights Protection and various
National Action Plans were adopted. There have been significant
positive developments regarding Armenia's compliance with human rights
instruments. According to international reports, Armenia has real
achievements, inter alia, in democratic reforms, good governance,
human rights records, freedom of expression, free media and internet,
freedom of assembly.
Mr. President,
The Human Rights Council has been playing a crucial role in
mainstreaming the obligations of states emanating from the Genocide
Convention into systematic protection of human rights and adoption
of the resolutions on the genocide prevention.
This year Armenia has again initiated a resolution on the genocide
prevention. There is a growing consensus of the international community
that the genocide prevention always requires the constant attention
and best efforts of the civilized world without subordinating that
noble cause to geopolitical calculations.
All members of the international community should stand together in
their efforts to prevent the crime of genocide and we call upon all
member states to support this resolution, in the same way, as it was
done two years ago.
Mr. President,
Today I recall the words of Andrei Sakharov on the uniting power of
Human Rights: "I am convinced that the idea of human rights protection
is sole ground that can unite people regardless of their nationality,
political convictions, religion or their position in the society..."
Indeed this is an important message and a benchmark for future
actions aimed at creating a world without war, dividing lines and
racist ideology, a world with firm belief that human rights can and
should bring people together and this is the ultimate raison d'etre
of the Human Rights Council.
Thank you.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/03/04/armenian-foreign-minister-addresses-un-human-rights-council/
From: A. Papazian