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16 September

STATEMENT OF ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER ANDRANIK MARGARIAN AT HIGH-LEVEL
PLENARY MEETING OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S 60TH SESSION
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian made speech at the 60th session of the UN General Assembly.
“Mr. President,
Secretary-General,
Excellencies,
Mr. President,
First, allow me, to congratulate You on Your election as President of the
60th session of the UN General Assembly. It is five years now that the Heads
of States and Governments adopted the Millennium Declaration thus assuming
responsibility to reach the development goals as outlined in the
Declaration. By joining the Declaration Armenia included the development
goals in its long-term strategic programs. By the decision of the Government
and with the assistance of international organizations Armenia adopted a
Poverty Reduction Strategy Program in August 2003.
It envisages measures aimed at implementation of MDGs and is in
compliance with the strategic development of the country. The Program
reflects our national distinctive features and enjoys the full support of
civil society and international organizations.
Mr. President,
Terrorism remains the biggest scourge facing humanity. The terrorist acts of
September 11, 2001 in the United States, then in Beslan, Madrid, London and
other parts of the world testify that states should unite their efforts to
commonly address this evil. Armenia strongly condemns terrorism and all its
manifestations. We commend measures undertaken by the Secretary-General
aimed at prevention of possible acts of genocide in the future. In this
connection I would like to underline the importance of inclusion in the
Outcome Document of the High-Level Meeting the concept of responsibility to
protect populations against genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and
crimes against humanity.
The international community should redouble its efforts to prevent
possible genocides. Armenians, as a nation that survived the first genocide
of the 20-th century, know well the horrible consequences of the policy of
genocide.
Mr. President,
One of the guarantees for security and stability in our region is peaceful
settlement of regional conflicts. Armenia remains committed to the peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. The people of Nagorno Karabagh
used its right to self-determination in accordance with the principles of
international law, just as some countries present at this session have
recently done. We are confident that only in conditions of mutual respect,
in an atmosphere of tolerance and with the will to recognize historic truth
can we secure peaceful and good-neighborly coexistence in our region.
We attach special attention to regional cooperation to encourage mutual
confidence. Unfortunately, this process is impeded by the blockade imposed
on Armenia, as well as by unwillingness of some countries of our region to
engage in such cooperation.
Mr. President,
Armenia supports the efforts aimed at reforming the United Nations and,
in particular, at enhancement of the role of the General Assembly, creation
of the Human Rights Council, and especially at increasing the effectiveness
of the working methods of the Security Council. We are confident that the
reformed United Nations Organization will be in a position to successfully
address today’s ever-increasing challenges. Thank you.”