On April 27, within the framework of the 77-th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) a session entitled ‘Better Recovery from Crisis in Asia through Regional Cooperation’ was held, addressed by the Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Multilateral Policy and Development Cooperation Department Arman Khachatryan.
Speaking about the unprecedented global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic due to its socio-economic consequences, Arman Khachatryan stressed that addressing the consequences of the crisis is possible through the deepening of regional and international cooperation, in that sense the UN system continues to play an important role in providing a global response to Covid-19. In this context, the Head of the Multilateral Policy and Development Cooperation Department, particularly, stated:
“The proper functioning of multilateral structures requires long-term commitment of member states to common values and goals, as international solidarity is a precondition for collective action.”
He added that from the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Armenia resolutely supports relevant multilateral structures, which should contribute to the deepening of cooperation, fulfill the commitment not to ignore anyone, emphasizing that the availability of vaccines should not be denied or restricted also to people living in the conflict zones, such as the population of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).
The Attention of the participants of the session was also drawn to the large-scale, pre-planned military aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh, with the direct involvement of Turkish foreign terrorists, and the consequences of that aggression.
“Today, about six months after the November 9, 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement Azerbaijan continues to obstruct international efforts to eliminate the humanitarian consequences of the war. Azerbaijan blocks access to humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh, continues to hold numerous prisoners of war (POWs) in gross violation of international humanitarian law. At the same time, with the opening of the ‘military booty park’ in Baku, Azerbaijan celebrates violence, racism and the dehumanization of ethnic Armenians, which is similar to the propaganda images of the Nazi era,” Khachatryan stated.
Referring to Azerbaijan’s attempts to justify the use of force, the allegations that the conflict was resolved by force, to create a new reality, Khachatryan stressed: “The reality created by the use of force cannot be legal. Moreover, in his recent statements, the President of Azerbaijan refers to the creation of the ‘Zangezur Corridor’, presenting territorial claims to Armenia and threatening to use force.
This rhetoric is absolutely unacceptable, it seriously undermines regional peace and stability. These demands are unfounded both in terms of history and international law, and besides they contradict to the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement.”
