Statement by Mr. Aram Hakobyan, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Armenia, at the UN Security Council Open debate, entitled "Futureproofing trust for sustaining peace"

03 May, 2023

Madam President,

We congratulate Switzerland on the assumption of the Presidency of the Security Council. We appreciate the organization of today’s important debate and thank Mr. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other briefers for their valuable contributions.

The mounting challenges to international peace and security are indeed troubling and call for a strengthened international cooperation. The Security Council should be able to perform its responsibilities, enshrined in the Charter, and take all measures on behalf of the wider membership of the UN, to maintain peace and security around the world.

To futureproof peace, a new impetus should be given to the prevention agenda, to peacebuilding, trust and confidence-building. Efforts should be made to ensure broader participation of women and youth, to counter all forms of violence and discrimination, and to strengthen international oversight capacities.

Human rights and fundamental freedoms must be placed at the center of the international efforts, with a special attention to the protection of civilians in vulnerable situations, and particularly those affected by conflicts.

Upholding the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security is essential for the realization of the rights to truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence of breaches of trust and international peace. Often it is the lack of accountability for wrongful acts that breeds more violence and sows discord. The UN and its principal bodies, particularly the Security Council and the International Court of Justice have a central role in promoting justice and accountability and upholding the faith in the rule of law among nations.

Madam President,

To build trust, prior agreements and international commitments should be implemented in good faith and in full. The well-established record of non-compliance by Azerbaijan with international treaties, agreements, arms control regimes and its consistent refusal to implement confidence and security building measures throughout the years have demonstrated a clear intent of instigating further hostilities in our region, exemplified, notably, in its large-scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020. Regrettably, the lack of adequate reaction from the international structures allowed the latter to further pursue its aggressive policies.

It’s been almost five months since Azerbaijan has put the Lachin Corridor, the only lifeline connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and the outside world, under an effective blockade. Moreover, on 23 April Azerbaijan installed a checkpoint in the corridor, violating the Trilateral statement on ceasefire of 9 November 2020, as well as disregarding the provisional measures indicated by the ICJ, according to which Azerbaijan “...shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions”.

The continued violations by Azerbaijan of international law, and prior commitments, warmongering and aggressive behavior should not be tolerated by this Council and the international community at large.

Madam President,

To achieve sustainable peace, it is equally important to ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access of the United Nations to conflict zones in conformity with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as safe, voluntary and dignified return of the displaced population and preservation of cultural and religious heritage.

We believe that the New Agenda for Peace provides a timely opportunity to address these and other multifaceted contemporary challenges, and reinforce the prevention toolbox of the United Nations.

I thank you, Madam President.

MFA RA
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