YEREVAN. – An Armenian delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Artak Apitonyan, on Thursday visited Geneva, Switzerland, and held talks, the Armenian Foreign Ministry informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Apitonyan briefed his interlocutors the consequences of the recent war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). He also drew the interlocutors' attention to Azerbaijan's recent encroachments on Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which have already resulted in a human casualty.

During the meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, is the parties stressed the importance of close cooperation between Armenia and the Office of the High Commissioner. Also, the Armenian deputy FM stressed the need for international organizations’ carrying out a humanitarian mission to Artsakh. In addition, the interlocutors discussed the possibilities of providing assistance to the forcibly displaced persons of Artsakh.

At the talk with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, the parties touched upon Armenia's activities at the UN Human Rights Council and its initiatives in a number of domains, including the fight to prevent the crime of genocide.

The Armenian delegation met also with Tatiana Valovaya, Director General of the UN Office at Geneva. The Armenian deputy FM briefed the UN official on the consequences of the recent Artsakh war unleashed by Azerbaijan and its ongoing belligerent policy. The interlocutors discussed also Armenia’s activities in several sectoral agencies of the UN Office at Geneva.

Artak Apitonyan met also with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer. The Armenian side stressed that Azerbaijan is not fulfilling its obligations, making the issue of captured Armenia soldiers and civilians a subject of political manipulation, disinformation, and blackmail. Reference was made also to the search for the bodies of the recent Artsakh war casualties and the missing, and to the issues of providing humanitarian aid to the Armenians of Artsakh.