Armenia’s UN envoy delivered speech at Security Council’s Open Debate

Armenia’s permanent envoy to the UN delivered a speech at the Security Council’s Open Debate “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict” on Tuesday.

Ambassador Mnatsakanyan highlighted that Armenia shares the concern of the Secretary General about the disturbing challenges for the protection of civilians in conflict-affected areas, remaining consistent as ever, reports the Foreign Ministry’s press service.

Basic physical security of civilians continues to be wracked, while the humanitarian aspects of affected populations are of high concern, the consistently rising numbers of civilian casualties call for a resolute action, he claimed.

He also stressed that the question of accountability requires amplified consolidation of the Council in demonstrating resolve against parties, responsible for denying basic security or humanitarian relief to affected populations.

“A preventive, protective and tactical use of force to protect civilians under threat of physical violence needs to be given thorough consideration.

The reputation of the Organization is judged not by words of condemnation, but by deliverable protection. Strengthening the capacities of field missions, including those of the relevant regional organizations, remains an on-going priority.

Last, but not least, protection of civilians in armed conflicts is closely tied to the prevention of mass atrocities, including the crime of genocide.

 A culture of assessing every crisis situation affecting civilian populations through the prism of massive crimes, including the crime of genocide, should be further cultivated within the Organization,” he said.
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have been experiencing significant challenges to the security of their civilian populations as a result of the on-going disregard by Azerbaijan to respecting and upholding the 1994 cease-fire agreement, he said.

Ambassador Mnatsakanyan said that Armenia highly praises the support of the international communityof the United Nations and of the Secretary General rendered to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship in the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He stressed that Azerbaijan should be denied the attempts to undermine the efforts of the Co-chairs or to engage in forum and mediation shopping.

The representatives of about eighty state members, including the deputy foreign ministers of Spain and Ukraine, as well as United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Christine Beerli attended the Open debate chaired by José Luis Cancela.