Politics 15:05 12/10/2023 Armenia

Almost no Armenians remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian agent tells UN court

Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Armenia’s agent before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on Thursday delivered remarks at the ICJ hearing on Armenia's request for the indication of provisional measures against Azerbaijan.

Kirakosyan’s full statement is provided below.

“Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, it is an honor to appear before you today as the Agent of the Republic of Armenia.

Less than nine months ago, I stood at this podium and warned that Azerbaijan was putting in motion a plan to ethnically cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of all ethnic Armenians. Madam President, it pains me greatly to say – that has now materialized.

After a nine-month blockade, maintained in flagrant violation of the Court’s Orders and in the face of widespread international condemnation, on 19 September, Azerbaijan launched a full-scale attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. It then cynically opened the Lachin Corridor for the first time in nine months only to let out more than 100,000 fleeing ethnic Armenians. Despite comprising for millennia the great majority of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, almost no ethnic Armenians remain in Nagorno-Karabakh today. If this is not ethnic cleansing, Madam President, I do not know what is.

I expect my counterpart will tell you this afternoon that Azerbaijan is committed to “reconciliation” and a “peaceful future” with ethnic Armenians. But if those words sound familiar to you, it is because he said the exact same thing nine months ago, after which Azerbaijan continued to deliberately interrupt vital public utilities and starve the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh for another eight months, before brutally attacking them and causing them to flee their ancestral home.

I expect my counterpart will tell you that Azerbaijan will permit those it considers its citizens to return. He promised the same thing in October 2021 when he claimed that, in areas that had been transferred to Azerbaijan in 2020, Azerbaijan was  “committed to the return of displaced persons, regardless of their national or ethnic origin.” Two years later, not a single ethnic Armenian has been permitted to return to those areas, and instead virtually all remaining ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh have been forced to flee their homes.

I expect my counterpart will also tell you that Azerbaijan will treat any ethnic Armenian who returns in accordance with Azerbaijan’s obligations under the CERD. He promised treatment of ethnic Armenians in accordance with the CERD in October 2021 as well. Two provisional measures orders by the Court did not deter Azerbaijan from escalating its violations of the CERD.

Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, let me be perfectly clear: since September 2020, Azerbaijan has been taking steps to cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of ethnic Armenians, and it has been doing so while Armenia’s claims under the CERD are pending before the Court. Political considerations may have prevented the international community from acting to stop it, but the reality of such ethnic cleansing is crystal clear to all.

Azerbaijan’s accountability for violations will be determined at the merits stage of this case. But you can still make a meaningful difference on the ground today. There is still time to prevent the forced displacement of ethnic Armenians from becoming irreversible, and to protect the very few ethnic Armenians who remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as those who have been abducted and are currently unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan’s prisons.

Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, Azerbaijan’s cynicism crosses any imaginable boundary. It complains that Armenia’s claims before this Court are “contrary to the norms and principles of international law,” and asserts that such actions  “constitute the main threat to establish peace, security and justice in the region,” and alleges that Armenia is “not interested in the process of peace and normalization with Azerbaijan.” Such remarkable stance is in stark conflict with the very foundations of the international legal order, which is based on the premise that disputes should be resolved by peaceful means only. And it reflects the way Azerbaijan prefers to resolve its disputes, that is by resorting to the illegal use of force. Is this how Azerbaijan understands peace and security?

Before I conclude by outlining the presentation of Armenia’s case this morning, please allow me one final point. Time and again, Azerbaijan has shown not only that it is willing to mislead the international community, but also that it is willing to misrepresent the Court’s Orders in doing so, or even to use them to justify its own violations of the CERD. In these circumstances, nothing other than targeted, unequivocal provisional measures protecting the rights of the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will suffice to prevent the ethnic cleansing Azerbaijan has perpetrated from continuing and becoming irreversible; to safeguard Armenians’ millennia long enduring cultural presence in Nagorno-Karabakh from being eradicated, as was already done in Nakhichevan and is being done elsewhere in Azerbaijan; and to protect the abducted political-military leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh from fabricated criminal charges. If your provisional measures retain any ambiguity whatsoever, Azerbaijan will exploit them. And in so doing, it will ensure that the ethnic Armenian presence and history in Nagorno-Karabakh are permanently wiped out.  While we do not do so lightly, it is in these circumstances that we approach the Court for the third time.

The remainder of Armenia’s presentation this morning will be structured as follows:

First, Mr. Martin will set out the facts compelling Armenia’s request.

Second, Professor Sicilianos will explain why Armenia’s requests fall within the jurisdiction of the Court, why the rights for which protection is sought are plausible, and how those rights are linked to the provisional measures requested.

Third, Ms. Macdonald will demonstrate the ongoing irreparable prejudice and urgency necessitating the indication of provisional measures.

Fourth, Professor Murphy will explain why each of the first nine provisional measures requested by Armenia is necessary to protect the rights of ethnic Armenians.

Fifth, Professor d’Argent will explain why the tenth and final provisional measure requested by Armenia is equally necessary and offer certain concluding remarks about Armenia’s third request for provisional measures.

Finally, I will return to the podium to read Armenia’s final submissions.

I thank you, Madam President, distinguished Members of the Court, for your attention and careful consideration of Armenia’s Request. I now kindly ask that you invite Mr. Martin to address the Court.”



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:05
Expert: Aliyev's statements serve Pashinyan's domestic political goals
In a televised interview in early 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made fresh threats against Armenia. However, the Armenian leadership...
16:30
Yerevan mayor announces new changes to transport fares
Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan has announced changes to the city's public transport fares that will be approved at the upcoming City Council...
16:00
Pashinyan 'shocked' by deadly ski resort fire in Turkey
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed shock over the devastating hotel fire at a ski resort in Turkey's Bolu...
15:35
15 candidates self-nominated for Chamber of Advocates Council
Fifteen candidates have self-nominated for the Council of Armenia's Chamber of Advocates. The election will take place at its general...
15:00
New head of Armenian parliament health committee named
The pro-government majority in the Armenian parliament on Wednesday elected MP Arsen Torosyan as new head of the Standing Committee on Health...
14:36
MP: Turkey and Azerbaijan assessing risks of new aggression against Armenia
Tigran Abrahamyan, an MP from the opposition Pativ Unem faction in the Armenian parliament, claims that Donald Trump's return to the White...
13:53
Public transport fare increase in Yerevan based on outdated calculations, expert says
Babken Pipoyan, head of the Informed and Protected Consumer NGO, has criticized the upcoming increase in public transport fares in Yerevan,...
13:10
Expert calls for replacement of Armenian ambassador to U.S.
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan has urged Armenia’s authorities to appoint a new ambassador to the United States under the Donald...
12:34
Alexander Sirunyan withdraws candidacy for SJC membership
Alexander Sirunyan on Wednesday officially withdrew his candidacy as a member of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), Lurer quoted Hayk...
12:12
National Gallery of Armenia opens exhibition on Artsakh
An exhibition of Yerevan-based artist Lousineh Navasartian's Silence project has opened at the National Gallery of Armenia....
11:36
Lobbyist for genocide denialist Turkey should donate earnings to Armenians
By Harut Sassounian www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com Former Cong. Bob Livingston published a commentary in the Wall Street Journal last week...
11:20
Drivers warned of icy roads in parts of Armenia
The Rescue Service has warned drivers about a road closure and icy conditions in Armenia. In particular, the road connecting the Amberd high...
11:12
Armenia offers condolences to Turkey over deadly ski resort fire
The Armenia Foreign Ministry has extended condolences to Turkey following the deadly fire at a ski resort hotel that killed at least...
17:00
Newmag to publish Henrikh Mkhitaryan's autobiography
Newmag will release Armenian football star Henrikh Mkhitaryan's autobiography this year, its founder Artak Aleksanyan has...
16:35
Russia's Lavrov announces plans to visit Armenia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced his plans to visit Yerevan following talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat...
16:21
Discussions on Minsk Group dissolution underway, Armenian speaker says
Discussions are underway regarding the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan told reporters on...
15:45
Trump orders US to leave WHO
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization...
15:30
Temperatures to drop further in Armenia
Dry weather is expected across Armenia throughout this week. The capital Yerevan will also see no precipitation in the coming days....
15:00
Lavrov calls Armenia Russia's natural strategic partner, ally
Yerevan is Moscow’s natural strategic partner and ally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during talks with his Armenian...
14:30
Armenia has no plans to quit EAEU, parliament speaker says
Armenia has no plans to leave the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan claims. “The EAEU...
13:53
Armenian, Russian FMs hold talks in Moscow
The meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in enlarged format has...
13:35
Ex-minister calls for abolishing asset declaration in Armenia
Economist Mesrop Arakelyan, a former minister of labor and social affairs, has called for the cancellation of Armenia’s...
13:00
Mirzoyan congratulates Marco Rubio on his confirmation as US secretary of state
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has congratulated Marco Rubio on his unanimous confirmation as U.S. Secretary of State....
12:36
Kindergarten fire in Armenian town forces evacuation of 117 children
A fire broke out at a kindergarten in Spitak, a town in Armenia’s Lori Province, on Tuesday morning. Two fire and rescue crews were...
12:12
Opposition councilor accuses Yerevan authorities of 'shadowy dealings and favoritism'
The opposition Mother Armenia faction of the Yerevan City Council has called an extraordinary session today to discuss the upcoming...
11:46
Henrikh Mkhitaryan celebrates 36th birthday
Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is celebrating his 36th birthday today. The Football Federation of Armenia and Inter have extended...
11:23
Hotel fire at Turkey ski resort kills at least 10
A fire broke out at a hotel at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday, killing at least at least 10 people and hospitalizing 32 others,...
11:06
EU delegation briefed about situation on Armenian-Azeri border
The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) hosted EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos last week. "The EU delegation was briefed about the...
17:00
Armenian FM to travel to Moscow
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to Moscow on January 21, his ministry reports. During the...
16:30
37 police officers sacked in Armenia last year
43 police officers in Armenia faced disciplinary action In 2024. Among them, 3 officers received a reprimand, 3 were issued a severe...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}