Interview of H.E. Mr. Mher Margaryan, Armenia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, to Ardzagang TV

05 November, 2019

17 October 2019

Ara Manukyan - Question: Mr. Ambassador, let me first thank you for giving us time from your busy schedule. I congratulate you on Armenia’s election to the Human Rights Council. You got the largest number of votes - 144, for which I congratulate you. It is a great achievement, and if I am not mistaken, Armenia got this honor for the first time. Let's talk about it a little.

Mher Margaryan: Thank you, Ara. Today is indeed a very happy day for us, as a result of a lengthy election campaign, Armenia was elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council by the General Assembly with 144 votes cast in a secret ballot. This is a great event and also a testimony to the appreciation of the democratic developments in Armenia by the international community. This vote proves that the international community appreciates our country's progress in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The elections in the Eastern European regional group were competitive. In the UN, as it is known, countries are split into regional groups, and certain vacancies are allocated to those groups for election purposes. For this year's Human Rights Council elections, two vacancies were allocated to the Eastern European regional group and three countries presented their candidacies - Armenia, Poland and Moldova. One is a member state of the European Union with its capabilities and clear support group, the other is also respected country and an EU Associated partner. The competition was very intense, but under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Mission in New York and engagement of other diplomatic missions of Armenia abroad a targeted and coordinated work was undertaken to present the progress that Armenia has made in promoting human rights and reassuring member states that Armenia, if elected to the Human Rights Council will also do her best to contribute to the human rights on the international arena as well.
As you know, the headquarters of the Human Rights Council is in Geneva and our membership starts in 2020 and we have a number of priorities.

Question: Since you mentioned it is in Geneva, how would you combine work in Geneva and New York?

Answer: The elections have taken place in New York and the activities inside the Council will be conducted by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN Office in Geneva, by the team there on a daily basis.

Question: Mr. Ambassador, I know that you are also the Chairman of the Commission on the Status of Women and will be chairing it from next year. What can you say about that?

Mher Margaryan: Yes, Armenia is a member of the Commission on the Status of Women, and in March of this year, as a Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia, I was elected as its Chairman. The Commission is a body of 45 member states, the main intergovernmental UN body dealing with the issues of the protection of women's rights, the promotion of their role, and the elimination of discrimination against women. Soon, next year, the 64th session of the Commission will take place. It is also a very important landmark, which will mark with the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action. That includes a number of areas for the advancement of women. We are getting ready for these functions soon.
Armenia's membership in the Commission on the Status of Women is also emphasized by the fact that the Armenian government attaches a major importance to promoting women's rights. As the Prime Minister has stressed on various occasions, women have played a significant role in the transformative changes leading to the Velvet Revolution in May 2018.
In Armenia, as a traditional country, there are certain stereotypes about women and girls. We intent to make best use of our membership in and chairmanship of the Commission on the Status of Women to talk about these issues not only at international level but also in our own country too, and to promote the advancement of women and girls in Armenia in different areas, in partnership with the UN and individual countries, ranging from their enhanced participation in political life to their involvement in economic activities and military service.

Question: These are our happy achievements, with your team and leadership, and of course with the direction from Armenia, which is very welcome. As you know, we also have very, very serious problems, especially regarding the Armenians. We learnt that yesterday you met with the UN Under-Secretary-General in charge of Humanitarian Affairs Mr. Mark Lowcock, and discussed pressing issues of our Armenian reality - the issues of Syria and the Syrian-Armenians, Turkey's attack on the Kurds in Syria. Representatives of the Armenian community have also suffered from it, there are casualties and serious displacement issues. If possible, please provide some details from your meeting; How the United Nations can be helpful?

Answer: Thank you for that question. Indeed, this is an issue that is very sensitive in Armenia and in our society, since more than a week of hostilities have been taking place in the north-east of Syria. I am sure you have also seen the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemning such actions by Turkey. The purpose of my meeting with the Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs was to raise the concerns of the Republic of Armenia in the context of the humanitarian crisis. As a people who have been subject to genocide in those same areas in the last century, we are well aware of the hardships of the local population, including the Armenian population, which, as you know, is concentrated in the city and region of Qamishli. The purpose of the meeting was to express the willingness of the Republic of Armenia to provide humanitarian assistance to the population of that region, regardless of their national, ethnic or religious background.
The willingness of the Armenian government to support the people of that part of Syria has received quite a positive response. As a result of the meeting, some arrangements were made to coordinate our efforts with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Question. Both the Armenian government and the Catholicos of All Armenians, the progressive world, have reacted. The United States should impose sanctions, because today, in the 21st century, it looks that again genocide may happen, this time against the Kurds, which can also affect many other nations living there.

Answer: Regardless of political or other considerations, our aim is to raise the issue of the humanitarian situation, because as a result of these actions or different behind-the-door arrangements the civilian population suffers. We want to first and foremost be helpful and supportive to this people.

Question. Mr. Ambassador, maybe this is not a question to you, but I would like to know your opinion as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia. If there is an issue to move Syrian Armenians to Armenia, what possibilities does the Republic of Armenia offer today?

Answer: You may know, there are already about twenty-two thousand Syrian Armenians in the Republic of Armenia. The government has taken all possible measures to provide them with housing, work, education, and so on. It is natural that Armenia is the homeland of all Armenians, but in the current situation, our support is also aimed at preventing these people from leaving their places and leaving their homes where they have lived all of their lives.
At the moment I am not aware of such urgency. However, as I mentioned, Armenia is the homeland of any Armenian, and if there is a situation where their further presence in any place is endangered, Armenia is always ready to provide support to the extent possible.

Question. Mr. Ambassador, in the context of the Artsakh issue, I would like to know how it affects your work with the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, especially in light of the latest bellicose statements of Azerbaijani President Aliyev? How do you, as colleagues, interact with them?

Mher Margaryan: Azerbaijan uses its bellicose statements also within the UN. At various meetings and conferences, the already well-known militant rhetoric is voiced by them. Naturally, we respond and present our point of view, which coincides with the approach of the international community and is reflected in the dynamics of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process. Azerbaijan is regularly trying to present its narrative of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in different structures. However, as you know, the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are being held under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship, the United States, Russia and France, and Azerbaijan's attempts to shift the issue to other bodies only have negative effect for on the process.

Question: Mr. Ambassador, I also in a way represent the Diaspora Armenians. I understand that this question may not be directly related to your activities, but using this occasion, I would like to ask what opportunities does Armenia's investment policy provide for the Diaspora to be more involved in Armenia's economic life?

Mher Margaryan: The government and the Prime Minister have stated on many occasions that the political transformations brought about by the 2018 Velvet Revolution must be followed by economic progress. To this end, the Government has already developed quite ambitious programs. The main capital of Armenia is the human capital. The government has declared that it is ready to support any entrepreneur who intends to invest in Armenia and operate legally, regardless of the sphere and scope of activity. The only requirement that is to act within the legal sphere and pay taxes. In this respect, Armenia is in an unprecedented situation now, which, I think, is well known to many of our citizens and compatriots abroad. It should serve as an incentive for them to come to Armenia, invest and operate in the free environment that now exists in Armenia also in the economic field.

Ara Manukyan: In conclusion, I would like to once again congratulate you, Mr. Ambassador, and to your team on the hard work in the election of Armenia to the Human Rights Council for the period of 2020-2022. Keep on achieving new successes.

Mher Margaryan: Thank you.

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