Statement by H.E. Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN at the UNGA Special meeting on the occasion of Eightieth Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

07 May, 2025

Madam President,

Today as we mark the 80^th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the darkest Chapter of the history of mankind, we gather in solemn gratitude to honor the heroes, men and women alike, whose courage, sacrifice and sense of duty shaped the course of the history.

We also commemorate the 80^th Anniversary of the United Nations and its Charter, that laid foundation of the global order, anchored on the international law.

It is our moral duty to remember and pay tribute to who bore unimaginable losses with dignity and resolve. Their lasting legacy is the freedom we enjoy and the liberties we cherish.

The Armenian people paid a heavy price in this victory. Nearly 600,000 Armenians took part in the war; more than half never returned. Among them were four Marshals, an Admiral of the Fleet, and sixty generals. Thousands of our Diaspora compatriots served valiantly in Allied forces worldwide. The legendary Resistance fighter Missak Manouchian, now laid to rest in France's Pantheon, stands as a powerful symbol of this sacrifice.

We also pay tribute to the Righteous Among the Nations—including Armenians—who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust, keeping the flame of humanity alive in its darkest hour.

Madam President,

Eight decades later, the international community continues to face of growing volume and severity of the conflicts, utter disregard of the international law, destabilizing military buildup, gross violations of human rights, racism, xenophobia and hate on ethnic and religious grounds.

We resolutely condemn manifestation of anti-Armenian hatred in the region, including the deliberate destruction and desecration of monuments, memorials and museums, dedicated to the contribution of the Armenian people to the victory in the WWII.

In light of these challenges we stand at the pivotal moment in the history, where the determination of international community “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” requires renewed global resolve.

The international community should resolutely respond to the use of force as means for conflict resolution. It is through commitment to the principles of the peaceful resolution of disputes and upholding of the human rights for all that the UN member states can collectively address the emerging threats to peace and security.

Madam President,

I would like to reiterate Armenia’s strong determination to contribute to the efforts aimed at strengthening the multilateral system, based on the international law and the shared values of freedom, justice and human rights.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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