Armenia’s engagement, however, is not confined to domestic implementation. We seek to contribute substantively to the strengthening of global safeguards against the gravest violations of international law. In this context, at the present session of the Human Rights Council, Armenia will once again table the resolution on the Prevention of Genocide. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on Monday stated this in his remarks at the high-level segment of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, informs the Armenian foreign ministry.

Mirzoyan added as follows: “The progressive development of this resolution has reflected emerging challenges at the intersection of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law and has consolidated international consensus on the means to address them. Support by all member states to this important resolution will be a much needed signal of our shared obligation to end the scourge of genocide.

Excellencies,

After decades of violent conflict and humanitarian emergencies, Armenia together with Azerbaijan took decisive actions towards establishing long-term peace in our region. Last year’s Peace Summit in Washington not only established peace between the two countries but also paved the way for trade, connectivity and people-to-people contacts. To take this path beyond the agreements between governments, we are also planting the seeds of genuine dialogue and trust between our societies, including affected populations.

Though the painful humanitarian consequences of the conflict are still to be resolved and the wounds of the distant and recent past linger on, we have chosen the difficult path of reconciliation. This is indeed a difficult endeavor with 19 Armenian detainees still being held in Baku, and need for clarification of the fates of missing persons and cases of enforced disappearances, and amid dissemination of distorted historical narratives. Nevertheless, Armenia remains firmly committed to pursuing this path to its future-oriented conclusion with the understanding that further institutionalization of peace will foster a more conducive environment for addressing the consequences of the conflict.

Honorable Chair,

In conclusion, I would like to underline that despite the immense pressure on multilateral institutions, we should remain voices of principled optimism and express our strong conviction that the human rights system and the United Nations as a whole will emerge from this process with reinvigorated capacities to fulfill their global mandate.”