Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who arrived in Geneva on a working visit, met with Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Congratulating the High Commissioner on assuming that responsible position, the Foreign Minister of Armenia wished her all the success and expressed hope that throughout her tenure she will make a significant contribution to the advancement of the human rights protection agenda.
The sides highly appreciated the close cooperation between Armenia and the UN Human Rights Office, stressing the mutual readiness for its further expansion. Both sides highlighted the importance of presenting by Armenia of the second mid-term voluntary report within the framework of Universal Periodic Review.
Touching upon the velvet revolution in Armenia, Minister Mnatsakanyan noted that Government reforms carried out on the basis of the mandate given by people are aimed at strengthening democracy and human rights in our country, ensuring equality before the law, impartial and effective justice, and fighting corruption.
Michelle Bachelet noted that the internal political processes in Armenia have been in the focus of the Office’s attention and commended their peaceful nature. The High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed readiness to support Armenia in implementing democratic reforms.
The counterparts touched upon the efforts of the international community aimed at preventing genocides and crimes against humanity, highly appreciating Armenia's significant contribution to the process.
Referring to the issues of protecting rights of women, Minister Mnatsakanyan noted that the works on elaborating the National Report based on the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 have been completed.
Minister Mnatsakanyan briefed the High Commissioner Bachelet on the preparations for the 3rd Global Forum “Against the Crime of Genocide” to be held on December 9, in Yerevan, noting that Armenia will make consistent efforts to turn this forum into another platform for genocide prevention.
With regards Nagorno-Karabakh issue Minister Mnatsakanyan reiterated Armenia's commitment to an exclusively peaceful settlement within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. He underlined that Artsakh acceded to UN fundamental documents on Human Rights, ratified and implements them. Foreign Minister of Armenia noted that human rights are universal and that the cooperation on their protection should be universal too, without any exception, especially for those who have consistently proved their adherence to them.
