Tag Archives: Edward Nalbandian

Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Latvia

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Էդվարդ Նալբանդյան

On June 26 by the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian arrived in Riga.

On the same day a meeting with the Speaker of Latvia’s Saeima Solvita Aboltina took place.

Welcoming the Foreign Minister of Armenia, the Head of the Latvian Parliament noted that Armenia is an important partner of Latvia in South Caucasus, and that an open and constructive political dialogue, and the willingness to develop the relations feature the relations between two states. Solvita Aboltina stressed, that the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship group of Armenia’s National Assembly with the Latvian Parliament is the largest one. She attached significance to the establishment of cooperation between the Committees of the Parliaments of two states.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, Edward Nalbandian mentioned that Armenia attaches importance to the parliamentary diplomacy as an important framework of interaction of countries and peoples.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the active Armenian-Latvian interaction on the parliamentary level and mutual visits, which considerably supports the development of interstate relations. The establishment of the Intergovernmental commission on trade cooperation 2 years ago and the efficient holding of its first session were highlighted.

The Speaker of Latvia’s Saeima and the Foreign Minister of Armenia exchanged detailed views on the steps to develop cooperation in various areas, in particular, giving an importance to the seeking of the ways to develop trade and economic cooperation.

During the meeting, the sides touched upon Armenia-European Union relations, priorities of Latvia during its Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2015.

The sides also exchanged thoughts over the Ukrainian crisis and ways of its settlement.

The meeting with Ivan Klementiev, the Head of Saeima Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group Latvia-Armenia, and the members of above mentioned group was on the agenda of Minister Nalbandian.

During the meeting with the parliamentarians the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia presented the main directions of Armenia’s foreign policy, discussed the Armenian-Latvian relations, issues of further development of bilateral cooperation in different fields.

On June 27 Edward Nalbandian met his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkēvičs.

Welcoming Armenia’s Foreign Minister the Foreign Minister of Latvia noted, that he recalled with warmth his visit to Yerevan and that the arrangements reached then are being implemented.

During the conversation the Ministers Nalbandian and Rinkēvičs commended that relations between Armenia and Latvia are being developed dynamically recently – mutual visits by the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of the two states were paid during the last years, a number of meetings were organized within the international conferences.

Edward Nalbandian and Edgars Rinkēvičs touched upon the organization of high-level mutual visits, anticipated steps on the development of cooperation in political, economic, cultural areas and that of education, the expansion of legal framework.

The Ministers highlighted that periodic consultations conducted between the Ministries lay sound grounds for further development of the collaboration.

Cooperation and the support of each other’s candidacies in the framework of international organizations were on the agenda of the talks.

Both sides mentioned that the legal framework of Armenia and Latvia expanded recently and that the agreements on deepening of interaction in the fields of education, science and culture should be supplemented to it.

In the context of Latvia’s Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2015, the sides discussed Armenia-EU cooperation.

Issues of further strengthening and expansion of trade and economic cooperation were on the agenda of the ministerial meeting. On that matter the importance of organization of business-forums was stressed.

Edward Nalbandian presented to his Latvian counterpart the efforts exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group towards the peaceful settlement of Karabakh issue.

The sides exchanged views on current regional issues – the Ukrainian crisis, situation in Syria, developments in Iraq, talks on nuclear program of Iran.

Edward Nalbandian invited his Latvian counterpart to visit Armenia.

Ministerial meeting was followed by a joint press conference.

Edward Nalbandian visited Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Riga, where he met the representatives of the Armenian community of Latvia.

Comment by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian on the address of American Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington D.C.

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Minister-Nalbandian-meets-Azerbaijani-FM-and-cochairs

In the speech of the American Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington D.C. it is underlined, that, “together with France, the United States and Russia share a common commitment to peace and security in Nagorno-Karabakh” and they would continue working through the Minsk Group for peacefully resolving this conflict.

Unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia on numerous occasions has commended and stressed the importance of the consistent efforts of the heads of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries – USA, Russia and France, in supporting the sides to the conflict to reach exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The American diplomat is correct, that the parties have almost reached agreements on a number of occasions, and brings  2011 Kazan Summit as the latest example.

It is well-known that because of Baku’s backtrackings, its attempts to snatch one-sided advantages made it impossible to achieve progress in Kazan in June 2011, at the summits  in Sochi in March 2011, in Astrakhan in October 2010, in Saint-Petersburg in June 2010, even though the sides were close to reaching agreements. I would like to recall that Baku backtracked several times in the past as well, for instance – 10 years before Kazan, in 2001.

The American Ambassador rightly finds sniper shootings  along the Line of Contact, the human losses as unacceptable, highlighting that the OSCE monitors were not able to have neither the mandate nor the resources to identify those responsible, to reduce the reported thousands of ceasefire violations every year.

As the Co-Chair states, we have many times urged to respect ceasefire agreement reached in May 1994. Unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan has rejected and continues rejecting numerous proposals made by Co-Chair countries to consolidate ceasefire, withdraw snipers from the Line of Contact, and create a mechanism of investigation of incidents and ceasefire violations.

Azerbaijan not only rejects those proposals, it continuously commits gross violations of ceasefire, masterminds provocations, does not respect even its own commitments on maintaining and strengthening the ceasefire – not only according to the provisions of the cease-fire agreement, reached between Azerbaijan, Karabakh and           Armenia on May 12, 1994, but also the ceasefire consolidation agreement, reached in the same three-party format on February 4, 1995, according to which Azerbaijan was obliged to refrain from statements that could escalate the situation and to immediately notify to the Armenian sides and Co-Chairs about violations, instead of increasing anti-Armenian propaganda by false accusations. For decades Baku has been violating those commitments.

In two days the 20th anniversary of the establishment of cease-fire is marked, and I hope that the Co-Chairs would use this important occasion to deliver a special statement containing a strong  message. It is vital to exclude the use of force, thereby creating utmost favorable conditions for the success of the negotiation process.

We resolutely agree that peoples should be prepared for peace, not war. Unfortunately until now the Azerbaijani leadership has been doing just the reverse. In spite of the several appeals of the international community to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions, Azerbaijan continues its bellicose statements, the glorification of murderers and persecution of peace advocates, the propaganda of xenophobia, intolerance and hatred, which leads to raising tension and escalation of the situation in the region.

The elements of the conflict settlement presented by James Warlick in general reflect the proposals of Co-Chair states.

As the Co-Chairs, we continue to believe that the elements outlined in the statements of the heads of the Co-Chair countries in L’Aquila, Muskoka, Deauville, Los Cabos and Enniskillen over the last years can be the foundation of reaching a lasting peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The American diplomat stresses that any enduring peace must reflect the views of all affected parties if it is to succeed. We have several times emphasized that without the full fledged involvement of Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiation process, it will be impossible to achieve the resolution of the conflict.

The OSCE Minsk Group American Co-Chairman justly observed that any attempt to select some elements over others will make it impossible to achieve a balanced solution.

We share the Co-Chairs’ opinion, expressed many times, that those elements must be seen as an integrated whole and the attempts to give priority to some elements will make it impossible to reach the settlement.

Unlike Azerbaijan, which on the occasion and without makes references to only one principle of international law, in response to the appeals by the heads of Co-chair countries, Armenia has on several occasions reiterated and once again re-affirms its commitment to the principles of international law, particularly the non-use of force or the threat of force, equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and territorial integrity.

Тogether with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Armenia will consistently continue to exert joint efforts towards exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Karabakh.

 

 

Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Edward Nalbandian Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia High Level Panel Discussion dedicated to the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 25th Session of the Human Rights Council

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90. Minister Nalbandian participated in Genocide prevention High Level pannel in Geneve - 07.03.2014

 

Mr. President of the Human Rights Council,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First I would like to thank Madam Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office for holding this High Level Panel Discussion dedicated to the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

I would like also to thank all panelists for their willingness to shape result oriented discussion on genocide prevention. I want to particularly thank Madam Esther Mujawayo, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, the 20th anniversary of which will be marked in an international conference in Brussels in three weeks.

Armenian people, as a nation that survived the first genocide of the 20th century, feels a strong moral responsibility to bring its contribution to international efforts in prevention of crimes against humanity. I should acknowledge the readiness with which many member states lent their support to our various initiatives for this noble goal. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all co-sponsors of the Human Rights Council Resolution on Genocide Prevention that was adopted by this august body last year.

Through its various actors, the United Nations plays a central role in Genocide Prevention. I would like to mention the personal involvement of Mr. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, who gives guidance to this ongoing cooperation. We are encouraged to see the determined work of the Human Rights Council, and other UN bodies together with the member states. I would like to stress the valuable contribution of Mr. Adama Dieng, Special Advisor to the Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide, who is with us today.

Despite the fact that the Genocide Prevention Convention was adopted in 1948, unfortunately, new genocides, new crimes against humanity have been committed over the ensuing decades, including recent years. From Cambodia to Rwanda to Darfur the terrible phenomenon of genocide has continued seeming unabated.

 

This means that we need not only debates, resolutions, declarations, conventions, but effective mechanisms and actions to prevent their recurrence.

 

Genocide is a complex phenomenon and does not occur according to a single model. Prevention must be based on an accurate understanding of the history of genocides. This includes a thorough analysis of all modern cases. We must understand not only what happened in each case, but also the causes. We must be ready to learn from past failures and be open to new ideas.

 

Genocide prevention requires the development of both enforcement and preventive measures. If genocide is committed, the perpetrators should not stay in doubt that they will definitely be held responsible. On May 24th, 1915 in a special declaration the Allied Powers – Russia, France and Great Britain, warned the perpetrators of the atrocities against the Armenian people that they would be held personally responsible for “these new crimes of Turkey against humanity and civilization,” from which the modern concept of Crimes against Humanity entered the international legal system.

 

The prehistory of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide is related to the most tragic page in the history of the Armenian people. Raphael Lemkin, the author of the term “genocide,” while defining the crime of genocide, referred to the very policy of mass extermination perpetrated against Armenians. Lemkin dedicated his life to the study of crimes against humanity, which, among others, paved the way for the adoption of the 1948 Convention.

The measures foreseen in the Human Rights Council Resolution of 22nd of March 2013 envisages the necessary preventive measures. We are all unanimous on three pillars of genocide prevention: early warning, human rights protection, and public campaign of education and awareness.

 

First, in order for the international community to react promptly, we must be aware of the risk of genocide as early as possible and make the necessary preventive steps. Usually perpetrators of genocide try to hide their intentions as long as possible. The international community should evaluate the origins of genocidal atmosphere leading to this heinous crime and prevent it as early as possible.

 

Over the course of the past decade, both the United Nations and the regional bodies have made much progress in improving early warning and assessment systems. We should do our utmost to ensure that these advances continue in the years ahead. Early identification and warning by themselves will not be effective unless they are followed by concrete forms of deterrence.

 

Second, genocide prevention is a part of the complex international mechanisms of the human rights protection. Moral values stand on the most important defense line against these horrible crimes. Genocide is an unthinkable crime for a society which is founded on the protection of human rights, on the values of mutual respect, tolerance and non-violence.

 

Third, one of our goals is to reinforce in the public these values through education and remembrance. Generations should get knowledge of the history of past tragedies, past genocides. The acknowledgement and condemnation of committed genocides are one of the most effective tools for their prevention in the future. Unacknowledged or preferred ignorance of genocide, which is otherwise called denial, along with impunity pave the way for the repetition of new crimes against humanity. Independent of geopolitical or other interests, the international community should stand together in the recognition, condemnation and punishment of past genocides, especially in light of the 1968 Convention on the Non-applicability of Statutory Limitations, in their efforts towards its prevention in the future.

 

The remembrance days of the victims of genocides, Mets Yeghern, Shoah, remembrance days in Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur and other genocides should be days of mourning not only for the descendents of victims, but for the descendents of the perpetrators. These days should be approached with willingness to move towards recognition and reconciliation. True reconciliation does not mean forgetting the past or feeding younger generations with tales of denial.

The civilized world resolutely rejects the incitement of hatred, racism, dissemination of intolerance, the denial of genocide, crimes against humanity under the guise of freedom of expression. The prevailing opinion of the international genocide scholars is that denial itself is a continuation of genocide.

Ladies and gentlemen,

While commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide we understand that the effectiveness of each treaty should be evaluated based on its implementation. This panel discussion is a good opportunity for sharing best practices in the implementation of this Convention.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to call upon those states that have not yet acceded to the Convention, to do so in the nearest future and to wish every success to those who spare no effort in genocide prevention.

 

Thank you!

Անկախ

 

Dr. Farkas will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan

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The U.S. Embassy announces the arrival of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia, U.S. Department of Defense Dr. Evelyn Farkas, to Armenia for a series of bilateral defense consultations from December 18 to19.

 

During her visit, Dr. Farkas will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, and experts from the academic community. This visit highlights the strong and expanding cooperation between the United States and Armenia in the area of defense.  Topics of Dr. Farkas’ discussions will include areas of cooperation that are beneficial to both countries such as coalition and peacekeeping operations, training between Armenian military and forces from the U.S. European Command and the Kansas National Guard, and regional security.

 Անկախ

 

 

Statement by H.E. Mr. Edward Nalbandian Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia 20th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council

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Էդվարդ Նալբանդյան,ԵԱՀԿ 20-րդ Նախարարարական համաժողով

06.12.2013

(Kiev)

Mr. Chairman,

Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I would like to start my address by expressing our condolences on the passing away of Nelson Mandela. I warmly remember my meeting and conversation in Pretoria with this great and wise statesman and leader.

I want to join the previous speakers in conveying my gratitude to the Chairman-in-Office, Minister L. Kozhara and his team for their efforts and contribution to the activities of the Organization throughout the year, as well as to thank the Government of Ukraine for the warm hospitality and successful organization of this Ministerial meeting.

The OSCE Ministerial meetings are always an opportunity to exchange views on how to raise the effectiveness of the Organization as a platform for generation of ideas and elaboration of concepts that would eventually contribute to Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security. The world we live and the security environment we are in, are transforming at an increasing pace; we have to address the common challenges and find the right solutions to them.

The year behind us was in many ways important in regard to positive deliberations and outline of positions. I would like to particularly mention the “Helsinki + 40” process. We perceive it as a process aimed at full realization of the vision of free, democratic, common and indivisible security community envisaged in the Astana Commemorative Declaration.

Views presented and the conclusions reached in the Progress Report by the Chairmanship on “Helsinki + 40” could be a ground for the future consecutive Chairmanships to take the process forward.

Our adherence to the vision of security community free of dividing lines and closed borders is an essential departure point to overcome divisions and strengthen trust and confidence among all participating states aimed at reconciliation. This should exclude unilateral blockades which have persisted in the OSCE area. This year the closure of borders with Armenia by Turkey turned into its third decade.
Mr. Chairman,
The effectiveness of our Organization to a great extent depends on our collective will and ability in an equal and balanced way to maintain our activities in all three dimensions.

The Security Dimension remains high on our agenda. We need to exert additional efforts for further modernization of the Vienna Document and full implementation of all confidence and security building measures. As for the current state of affairs in regard to conventional arms control regime, we should narrow our different perceptions and try to come to an agreement.

The intricate link between economic activity and environment is evident in our daily life. Armenia supports the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) and is taking steps to create an electronic mining database in the framework of Open Government Partnership, which could serve the purpose of improvement of the environmental transparency in our region.

The decisions on the agenda to be adopted at this meeting on the Human Dimension could become an additional tool for the protection of fundamental human rights in the OSCE area.

Trafficking in human beings is still one of the disgraceful violations of human rights that needs to be effectively repudiated. Armenia’s efforts to fight this crime have been duly recognized by our partners.

Mr. Chairman,
The Government of Armenia is implementing a wide package of reforms to further consolidate the democratic institutions, strengthen the rule of law, protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, improve electoral procedures and relevant legislation, strengthen independent judicial system and expand the role of civil society.

The OSCE plays an important role in advancing democratic reforms in Armenia.
Our close work with the ODIHR and the Representative on the Freedom of Media and implementation of relevant recommendations is very productive.

The 2013 Presidential elections in Armenia were assessed by OSCE/ODIHR Elections Observation Mission to be in compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections.

I would also like to mention our fruitful cooperation with the OSCE Yerevan Office which implements projects across all three dimensions.

As the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Armenia during the last six months stressed the necessity to further consolidate cooperation between the OSCE and the Council of Europe. Building on synergies of our efforts and avoiding duplications, our two organizations can achieve better results in protecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Mr. Chairman,

The resolution of the existing conflicts in the OSCE area continues to remain a serious challenge.

In this June in Enniskillen in the framework of the G8 Summit the Presidents of the three Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, United States and France, issued a new, fifth consecutive statement on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where they once again stressed that only a negotiated settlement can lead to peace, stability, and reconciliation.

In Armenia we welcomed this statement saying that, as the Co-Chairs, we continue to believe that the principles and elements outlined in the statements of the heads of the Co-Chair countries over the last five years can be the basis for reaching a fair and lasting settlement of the conflict. We share the position of the Co-Chair countries, that those principles and elements should be seen as an integrated whole and that any attempt to select some elements over others would make it impossible to reach a compromise and achieve a solution. We absolutely agree that peoples should be prepared for peace, not war. Armenia has on several occasions reiterated and in response to the Enniskillen appeal of the Presidents of USA, Russian Federation and France, once again re-affirmed its commitment to the principles of international law – the non-use of force or the threat of force, equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and territorial integrity.

On November 19, for the first time since January 2012, a meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan took place in Vienna, and everyone knows that it was not because of Armenia that for about two years Summit meetings were not organized. In Vienna the Presidents agreed to advance negotiations towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict and instructed Foreign Ministers to continue in cooperation with the Co-Chairs to build on the work to-date with the aim of intensifying the peace process. With this aim the first meeting between Ministers was held on December 4th and we agreed to continue such meetings. We do hope that Azerbaijan is really returning to the table of negotiations with a constructive approach, which could enable us to speed up efforts to reach agreement on the basic principles, about which the Co-Chairs on the highest level have made several appeals and about which the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan expressed their willingness in the last joint statement adopted in January 2012 in Sochi.

A constructive approach is necessary for reaching not only an agreement on the principles of the settlement, but also for the realization of the confidence-building measures, proposed by the Co-Chairs and supported by Armenia, such as consolidation of ceasefire, withdrawal of snipers from the line of contact and the establishment of a mechanism for the investigation of ceasefire violations.

To achieve a durable peace, stability and security in the region, Armenia will continue to invest its utmost efforts towards the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict exclusively through peaceful means and on the basis of the purposes, principles and norms reflected in the UN Charter and the provisions of the statements of the Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries’ Presidents in L’Aquila, Muskoka, Deauville, Los Cabos and Enniskillen.

Mr. Chairman,

To conclude, I would like to express Armenia’s readiness to support the incoming Swiss Chairmanship in the implementation of its agenda.
Thank you.

 

 

 

Edward Nalbandian meets with Catherine Ashton

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Էդվարդ Նալբանդյան,Քեթրին Էշթոն

 

On November 29th Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, being within the delegation led by President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan in Vilnius, had a meeting with the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton.

The Armenian Foreign Minister and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs exchanged letters which outline the future-oriented agenda of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union.

Statement by H.E. Mr. Edward NALBANDIAN Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, 37th session of UNESCO General Conference

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Էդուարդ Նալբանդյան,ՅՈՒՆԵՍԿՕ

 

Mr. President, 

Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all I would like to join the previous speakers in congratulating Mr. Hao Ping, Vice Minister for Education of China on his election as the President of the 37th Session of the UNESCO General Conference and extend our thanks to the outgoing President Ms. Katalin Bogyay.

Mr. President,

Every two years we come together to reaffirm the founding vision of this institution: the pursuit of the ideas of peace and humanity through the education, science and sustainable development, intercultural and interreligious dialogues.

Last year Armenia marked 20th anniversary of its UNESCO membership. Since then Armenia, as a dedicated member, has been increasingly engaged in the Organization’s activities and programs, promoting its principles and values.

Mr. President,

 

Armenia expresses its support to the initiative of the UN Secretary General “Education first”, in which the UNESCO plays a key role. In this regard it has been both an honor and a responsibility for us to be in the Council of the International Bureau of Education.

 

We welcome UNESCO’s focus on inclusive social development and intercultural dialogue reflected in its new Mid Term strategy objectives. It is difficult to imagine modern development without international cooperation in the fields of education, science, technology and culture. UNESCO plays a crucial role in promoting such cooperation through global networks, including the UNESCO Chairs and the “Associated schools networks”, in which Armenia is actively involved. We consider the programs mutually beneficial for UNESCO and its member countries and we would encourage enhancement of the programs by further improvement of communication and cooperation with the networks on the ground and better utilization of their potential.

 

Mr. President,

 

The past year was memorable for Armenia as Yerevan became the twelfth World Book Capital. Throughout the year Yerevan was a meeting place for several well-known writers, journalists, publishers, librarians and booklovers from all over the world.

 

This significant event coincided with another major celebration – 500th anniversary of the Armenian book-printing. Armenians were among the first in the world to make use of Guttenberg’s invention and starting from 1512 founded Armenian printing houses around the world. The first Armenian book was printed in Venice in 1512, and the first Armenian printed magazine – in Madras in 1794.

 

The year-long events presenting Armenia’s rich cultural heritage to the world was truly “crowned” by inscription of over thousand-year-old Armenian epic “David of Sassoun” on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

 

The celebrations of the 300th anniversary of great Armenian poet and musician Sayat-Nova were included in the UNESCO list of anniversaries for 2012-2013. Sayat-Nova made a considerable contribution not only to the Armenian, but also to the cultural heritage of our region.

 

Inscription of Aram Khachaturian’s compositions on the Memory of the World International Register this June was a wonderful tribute to the composer’s legacy on the occasion of his 110th anniversary in 2013.

 

Mr. President,

 

We highly appreciate UNESCO’s goal of promoting intercultural dialogue, understanding and tolerance in the world.

 

Since last May Armenia has assumed the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe making fight against xenophobia, hate-speech and intolerance its key priorities.

In an era when the protection and promotion of human rights are considered to be the underpinning concept for the civilized world, intolerance towards the values of civilization belonging to others, damaging or destroying cultural or religious heritage intentionally, consistently, repeatedly, must be condemned with the same resolve and determination as violence against people.

The destruction by Azerbaijanis in Nakhijevan of thousands of delicately carved cross stones by the Armenian masters, dating from the 9th to the 16th centuries, is a vivid manifestation of such crime.

Several thousands of these giant medieval sculptures were bulldozed under the Azerbaijani government’s watchful eyes and this area was turned into a military ground in a government sanctioned operation. The 16th International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) General Assembly resolution regretfully stated with regard to this vandalism: “this heritage that once enjoyed its worthy place among the treasures of the world’s heritage can no longer be transmitted today to future generations.”

Our numerous calls for sending international fact-finding missions to Nakhijevan, as well as attempts by a number of international organizations and countries have been either ignored or rejected by the Azerbaijani side.

 

Mr. President,

 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education state that “Education shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups”. Taking into consideration UNESCO’s unique role in the sphere of education, we call upon the Organization to create within its educational programs some sort of an overview mechanism that will examine and evaluate the textbooks of the member-states, especially history and social sciences textbooks, with a special emphasis on exclusion of racism or xenophobia. The Armenian heritage, culture and history, after lasting continuously for more than thirty centuries are nowadays being distorted and altered in Azerbaijan. In this country the rewriting of its history is continued by means of misappropriation or annihilation of the traces of other cultures on their territory, or even more, by privatizing the cultural heritage of the neighboring nations. A country that appeared on the political map of the world less than a hundred years ago has territorial and cultural claims towards a country and a people the several millenniums’ history of which is recorded from the ancient times.

 

Mr. President,

 

Only through coordinated efforts the international community can pursue the ideas of peace and humanity through education, science and sustainable development, intercultural and interreligious dialogues.

Armenia is strongly committed to the ideals and goals of UNESCO and will continue expanding its involvement in the UNESCO initiatives and programs.   

Thank you.

 

Statement by the Chairman of CoE Committee of Ministers, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the entry into force of the European Convention on Human Rights

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399. Comments by Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, on the Enniskillen Joint Statement on Nagorno-Karabakh by the Heads of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries 18.06.2013Sixty years ago, on the 3 September 1953, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, better known as the “European Convention on Human Rights”, entered into force. This treaty is undoubtedly the cornerstone of the human rights protection in Europe. Over sixty years, persons within the jurisdiction of the member States of the Council of Europe have benefited from this unique legal instrument. Several landmark judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, guardian of the Convention, have helped to significantly strengthen the rule of law and democracy across the European continent.

As Pierre-Henri Teitgen, one of the founding fathers of the European Convention, pointed out more than sixty years ago, democracies do not go bad in one day; nor can rule of law be put in place overnight. The promotion of human rights is an ongoing process and it is our common responsibility to ensure that the European Convention remains the effective constitutional instrument of European public order that it has become over the years.

That is why the Armenian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe highly values the recent adoption of Protocols No. 15 and 16 to the Convention, which reinforce the ability of the Court to deal with incoming cases and strengthen application of the Convention at national level. No less than 22 member States have signed Protocol No. 15 since its opening for signature at the end of June. The opening for signature of Protocol No. 16 on 2 October will be another important step.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will continue to do its utmost to ensure that the rights enshrined in the Convention are respected and protected across Europe.