Statement On "The aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia with the direct involvement of Turkey and foreign terrorist fighters" as delivered by the Delegation of Armenia at the 1310th meeting of the Permanent Council

22 April, 2021

Mr Chairperson,

I should like to begin by informing the Permanent Council that, on 20 April, the Azerbaijani armed forces – in gross violation of the trilateral statement signed on 9 November 2020 – opened small‑arms fire on Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh, and on the villages of Shosh and Mkhitarashen in the Askeran region of Artsakh. The roof of a house in Stepanakert was damaged as a result. Unfortunately, such provocations and violations of the ceasefire are no longer isolated instances. In the light of the statements by the Azerbaijani President threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, and also bearing in mind the ongoing State‑run campaign of anti‑Armenian hate propaganda in Azerbaijan, these developments are particularly alarming.

Mr Chairperson,

Almost six months after the end of the war of aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan with the direct support and involvement of Turkey and Turkish‑backed foreign terrorist fighters, the situation regarding the Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees remains unresolved, since Azerbaijan continues to blatantly disregard its obligations under both the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020 and international humanitarian law. The ongoing detention of Armenian prisoners of war and other captives in Azerbaijan poses a direct existential threat to the life and safety of our compatriots. Just two days ago, we learned of the death of 18‑year‑old Erik Mkhitarian, whose remains had been discovered and subsequently identified using a DNA test. He was killed in Azerbaijani captivity after the cessation of the military hostilities. On 24 November, Erik was still alive, as evidenced by video footage disseminated by Azerbaijani users on social media that day. His name was on the list of 23 prisoners of war and detainees submitted by Armenia to the European Court of Human Rights. The fact that Erik was killed more than two weeks after the signing of the trilateral statement reinforces our constantly voiced concerns and fear for the lives of other prisoners of war and detainees. This is already the second barbaric murder of a prisoner of war to have been confirmed. The first was the murder of Arsen Gharakhanyan, who was tortured and shot while in Azerbaijani captivity. These extrajudicial killings suggest that the chances of survival of any Armenian in Azerbaijani captivity are minimal. Nor do they inspire one with confidence about the lives of Armenians under the rule of the Azerbaijani authorities being protected.

Mr Chairperson,

This current issue was introduced by my delegation as a result of the war of aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan and supported by Turkey. Its title is descriptive and encapsulates the illegal and aggressive actions of both Azerbaijan and Turkey. In their public statements, various Turkish officials – including officials at the highest level – have openly acknowledged Turkey’s unconditional support for this war of aggression. The latest such acknowledgement came from the outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, who said that their two countries had “accomplished everything together”, including the so‑called “liberation of Karabakh”. Turkey’s involvement in the latter is substantiated by a great deal of irrefutable evidence, including evidence from Turkish sources, and does not need to be proved any further.

Such behaviour on Turkey’s part comes as no surprise, given that Turkish hostility towards Armenia and the Armenians goes back to the times of the Ottoman Empire.

Mr Chairperson,

In two days’ time, Armenians across the whole world, together with all of progressive humankind, will mark the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as a result of which 1.5 million Armenians, including women, children and elderly people, were slaughtered or sent on death marches into the Syrian desert. We lament the fact that, even after 106 years, the consistent denial of this crime against humanity remains Turkish State policy.

Descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide from all over the world have for years been struggling for international recognition of this heinous crime, overcoming the aggressive resistance of Turkish denialism.

This denialism has become an easily recognizable “trademark”, having evolved from claims that “nothing happened” into an attitude to the effect that “something did happen, but Turkey has nothing to do with it”. More recently, Turkey’s leadership has resorted to the approach of blaming the victims by saying that they “deserved” it and that, if necessary, Turkey would “do it again”. Genocide denied is genocide repeated.

Turkey nowadays often tries to justify the Armenian Genocide by invoking the turmoil of the First World War, arguing that the deportation of Armenians was necessary because their presence near the front lines posed a threat to national security. However, this assertion does not withstand scrutiny. The story of Sargis Torossian, a Turkish officer of Armenian descent whose family was deported and brutally killed while he was fighting heroically in the ranks of the Turkish Army defending Gallipoli, clearly demonstrates – like the stories of so many other Armenians – the ethno‑racial and genocidal nature of this crime.

Mr Chairperson,

Alongside its armed forces, Ottoman Turkey employed various marauding bands to carry out the Armenian Genocide.

In our own times, Turkey has been recruiting and transferring foreign terrorist fighters, who together with the Azerbaijani armed forces carried out numerous crimes against humanity during the war of aggression against Artsakh and its population last year.

Azerbaijan has clearly become a repository of this centuries‑old anti‑Armenian hatred and xenophobic sentiment, the manifestations of which are becoming more and more irrational and aggressive with each passing day.

It is symptomatic that during the so‑called “victory parade” organized by Azerbaijan and Turkey to celebrate the war of aggression waged against Artsakh by the triple alliance of Azerbaijan, Turkey and foreign terrorist fighters and jihadists, the Turkish President paid tribute to the words and actions of Enver Pasha, the war minister of the Ottoman Empire and one of the masterminds of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Moreover, that person also led the invasion into the South Caucasus by the so‑called Turkish Islamic Army of the Caucasus and was responsible for the massacres and atrocities committed against Armenians in Baku and Artsakh in 1918. Even after 106 years, the tactics and poisonous mindset of those in power in Turkey have unfortunately not changed one whit.

Mr Chairperson,

The Turkish delegation keeps repeating the same narratives, blaming my delegation for “the continuation of poisonous discourse and enmity here in the OSCE”. They claim that “new approaches are needed”, and that “now there is a real chance for peace”. These are no more than empty, claims and misleading phrases given the belligerent and aggressive rhetoric of the President of Azerbaijan.

On the eve of the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, President Aliyev has made an outrageous statement in clear defiance of international law and his country’s OSCE commitments. In a televised interview, he said in particular: “The creation of the Zangazur corridor fully corresponds to our future national and historical interests. We are implementing the Zangazur corridor, whether Armenia likes it or not. If they do, it will be easier for us to implement, if not, we will implement it by force. Just as before and during the war, I said that they must get out of our lands or we will expel them by force. And so, it happened. The same will apply to the Zangazur corridor.”

It is highly regrettable to note that this egregious and threat to the territorial integrity of Armenia, which, moreover, contains a clear statement of intention to use force, did not elicit an appropriate reaction from the OSCE – the world’s largest regional security organization – or from those who set themselves up as zealous guardians and unwavering champions of the concept of comprehensive, inclusive and co‑operative security and the Helsinki Final Act.

Distinguished colleagues,

If Turkey were sincere in its statements about striving for peace in the region, then, first of all, it should have brought its influence to bear on Azerbaijan to stop the killing and the inhuman and degrading treatment of Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees, and to facilitate their release and repatriation. It should have curbed the aggressive rhetoric coming from Baku or at the very least issued a friendly rebuke. It should have explained to the dictatorial regime in Baku that the so‑called “Military Trophies Park” with its mannequins of fallen Armenian soldiers is a shameful and disgraceful manifestation of hatred and intolerance that has no place in the twenty‑first century – or, if nothing else, that it makes a mockery of the propaganda campaign on which Azerbaijan is spending billions of dollars in an attempt to portray itself as a peace-loving and responsible member of the civilized world.

Mr Chairperson,

The current situation in Nagorno‑Karabakh is the result of a flagrant violation by Azerbaijan of several core principles of the Helsinki Final Act, namely refraining from the threat or use of force; peaceful settlement of disputes; equal rights and self‑determination of peoples; and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. No one should be under any illusion that the results of the use of force, accompanied by war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, can ever become the basis for a lasting and sustainable peace. Such a peace can only be achieved in the region through a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno‑Karabakh conflict, which must include determining the status of Artsakh on the basis of the realization by the people of Artsakh of its inalienable right to self‑determination, ensuring the safe and dignified return of the recently displaced population to their homes, and preserving the cultural and religious heritage of the region.

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