PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
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Statement by His Excellency Vartan Oskanian
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
At the First Session of the UN Human Rights Council
June 21, 2006
Geneva

Mr. President,

I congratulate you on your selection, and the new Council on this, its
inaugural session. The third pillar of the UN ­ human rights ­ is now on a
par with the other two ­ peace and security, and development. Humanity¹s
stake in each of these interdependent aspects of life has been affirmed by
the creation and mandate of this council.

Securing protection and respect for human rights will, arguably, continue to
be the most tortuous and contentious of the UN¹s three challenges. This
principle assumes for each member state responsibility for one¹s neighbors
as well as for oneself. And this, in a world where distance does not
determine who your neighbor is.

Globalization and the electronic media enhance our knowledge and increase
our liability. It is as easy to look into our neighbor¹s living room as our
own. To hear the screams next door and do nothing will be as difficult as
ignoring uproar at home. We are now the first generation who simply cannot
afford to do so. And ironically, we are the first generation that is able to
afford to systematically, fundamentally address the problems ­ and even the
crises. We can muster the time, skills and resources to construct a new
pro-active, daring, spirited international system that not only has the
moral authority but also the tenacity to protect the powerless.

This, combined with national programs and institutions, with resolve and
muscle, can work wonders. After all, the world is held together, however
precariously, by the vision, leadership and struggle of its leaders. If we
are committed to a world of justice, equality and rule of law, then each new
institution, each new decision, each new mandate will move us toward that
end.

Mr. President, I know that the struggle to empower individuals so that they
believe in their individual and collective civil and human rights, has as
much to do with economic and social progress, as it does with education. I
know that it is only when the preconditions for a full and free life of
dignity are in place, only then are markets powerful engines of development,
only then is critical infrastructure sustainable, and only then do
individuals stand up to demand and protect individual and collective human
rights. I know that prosperity and stability depend on collective decisions,
critical infrastructure and united action. I know that by helping raise
productivity and escaping endless cycles of poverty, we will have done more
to provide individuals with the tools to defend their human rights than all
the declarations and conferences combined.

In Armenia, we are tackling this greatest challenge through a public-private
partnership that will engage the government of Armenia, Armenia¹s business
community, the international community and individual countries, as well as
our generous Diaspora, to embark on eradicating rural poverty through a
comprehensive, integrated approach. Our intent is to meet the Millennium
Development Goals, and to replace hopelessness and desperation with a sense
of self-worth and security.

We will do this within our borders, to the extent that we can. For regional
and global security, however, we count on this new body to demonstrate a new
readiness to react promptly to prevent serious human rights abuses. This is
incumbent at a time when technology makes each abuse and vulnerability
immediately felt and shared, yet politics prevents societies from doing for
each other what trusting friends would automatically do ­ reach out, defend,
protect, pressure and rebuff.

Armenia has and continues to promote stronger international mechanisms to
prevent and eradicate the crime of genocide, and all of its precursors ­
including efforts, too often successful, at not just cleansing a region of
its indigenous people, but also erasing their memory. Armenians have
survived and gone on to live through each of these attempts. Even today, in
the 21st century, we have watched helplessly as the spiritual and cultural
markers of our people are decimated. This violation of the memory and
spirit of centuries of Armenian existence on lands which are today
Azerbaijan¹s is cynical and dangerous. These huge, exquisite, unique stone
crosses which were both sculpture and tombstone are now gone ­ 2,000 of
these medieval markers were destroyed just a few months ago. The
gravemarkers are gone, and Armenian and international fears that
Azerbaijan¹s authorities might in fact not be serious about peace have been
reinforced. After all, their organized, violent, armed response to peaceful
calls for self-determination two decades ago, was the first attempt at
ethnic cleansing in the soviet space and ignited the conflict which remains
unsettled today. This most recent manifestation of organized violence, in a
place where no Armenians live today, and far from the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict area, tells us that neither Azerbaijan¹s methods nor its intent has
changed. Such unambivalent, callous demolition of culture and history also
destroys trust and peace.

If Azerbaijan¹s one step forward, one step back approach in the negotiations
was simply alarming, their recent, desperate offers of autonomy are concrete
examples of a retreat from the letter and spirit of these talks, and clearly
not in sync with international trends. Offering autonomy to a people who
have for nearly two decades been in control of their lives on their own
historic lands is at the very least, self-deception. We hope the talks will
go forward in a way to provide everyone involved with a real hope for
lasting peace.

Mr. President, we are proud that over the last decade and a half, we have
served as members of the Human Rights Commission, we have acceded to
significant conventions, and have created a variety of institutions,
including the Office of the Human Rights Defender. We have issued an open
invitation to special procedures and are open and ready to co-operate with
the UN Human Rights mechanisms. This is good for each country, as it is for
a vigilant world.

Thank you.

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