Statement by H.E. Mher Margaryan Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN, at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

29 September, 2020

Mr. Chair,

I would like to thank you for convening this session to reflect on the progress and challenges in the implementation of the goals, ideals and principles of the Alliance, as we mark the 15th anniversary of its establishment. While reflecting on the declared role of the Alliance in bridging divides, promoting harmony and preventing conflict, it is important that we look into the serious challenges that generate aggression and violence in various parts of the world.

We witness alarming trend of rise of hate speech, justification of past crimes, glorification and promotion of hate crime perpetrators into role models for youth. State-led policy of denigrating and insulting the victims of past genocides and construction of distorted historical narratives as means of erasing every trace of the presence of ancient civilizations in their historic homeland further deepen dividing lines and undermine prospects of reconciliation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted human societies, amplifying risks of intolerance, discrimination, hatred and conflict.

As the world is fighting the pandemic, Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey, has launched a pre-planned large-scale military offensive along the entire line of contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan with a clear genocidal intent. A country, that positions itself as a model of tolerance and multiculturalism, has already achieved complete annihilation of every trace of the civilizational presence of Armenians in the territories currently under its jurisdiction.

We deplore use of foreign terrorist fighters by state authorities for committing attacks against ethnic and religious groups. There are credible reports of deployment of foreign terrorist fighters by Turkey from territories of Syria presently under its control to be used in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It comes as a source of grave concern that Turkey, a co-founding member state of this Alliance, has been unconditionally supporting the military aggression of Azerbaijan, building its policies in the region on the traditions of kinship, impunity, denialism and justification of the Armenian Genocide.

Today, the Christian Armenian heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh is under attack, as indiscriminate bombardment and shelling with use of heavy weapons is being conducted in flagrant violation of the international law including the international humanitarian law and we call on the Members of Alliance to resolutely deplore such hostile actions.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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