Without universal norms for peaceful coexistence, international law and red lines not subject to double standards the world can’t regain peace and development, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the 4th Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide.
In his remarks the FM said that the 4th forum organized by Armenia had to take place in December of 2020 but was delayed not only due to the COVID-19 pandemic but first of all the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“The consequences of this war of aggression aren’t overcome to this day. Furthermore, in May and November last year, and in September 13-14 of this year, Azerbaijan attacked sovereign territory of Armenia, which led to gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including the right to life, prohibition of torture, treatment of captives and property. The Armenian people faced new security threats, which aren’t eliminated to this day,” Mirzoyan said.
The foreign minister added that this situation is a result of a long process, and the spread of extreme hate against Armenians for many years and continuous development of military capacity eventually transformed into the use of force. The approach of using force for solving foreign political issues, displayed with onset of new wars and conflicts in various corners around the world, shows that there is a crisis in the global security system.
“It is obvious that force has always been an important factor in international relations, but no international system can solely be based on the “force gives right” principle, because as we know there is always someone stronger than the strong one, and even a lasting war can’t record a final accurate balance of bowers. Without universal norms for peaceful coexistence, international law and red lines not subject to double standards the world can’t regain peace and development. It is also obvious that after this current crisis of multilateralism we will need to give new meaning to international relations and find new consensus for the coexistence of peoples,” Mirzoyan said.
He added that it is difficult to predict all elements of that consensus, but what’s obvious is that the inadmissibility and prevention of genocides, ethnic cleansing, religious and national discrimination and hate, protection of human rights, including protection of collective rights, must be one of the pillars.
“Just like an individual person, individual peoples have the right to literally live safely and be in charge of their own destiny. And no one, no force can deprive them of these collective and natural rights. From this perspective, here and now, the work of this forum, your presence, the generation of new ideas in genocide prevention are highly important,” Mirzoyan said in his speech.
He praised the UN for the major work over the past two decades in creating new capacity and mechanisms for genocide prevention.
Mirzoyan highlighted the Genocide Prevention resolution which is submitted every two years within the framework of the Human Rights Council, initiated by Armenia. He said the resolution brings substantial contribution in genocide prevention.
“Let no nation in the world ever face the disaster of genocide again,” the Armenian Foreign Minister concluded.
