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Armenian Foreign Minister Addresses UN Human Rights Council

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  • Armenian Foreign Minister Addresses UN Human Rights Council

    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
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