17:30,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia continues its activities in the UN and other platforms, foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in response to media inquiries on the UNSC emergency meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh and possible subsequent developments.
She said that the international community, the members of the UN Security Council interested in real, lasting stability in the region must take clear steps, unite efforts in order to lead the developed understanding regarding the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor and the immediate resolution of the problem with effective use of existing mechanisms.
Question: On August 16, an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council was held regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The countries expressed their positions, but it was not reflected in any document. Why was there no decision made, no document adopted? Did Armenia present such a document?
Answer: As we have already noted, we highly appreciate the principled positions voiced so far by our partners, international bodies during this and the previous meeting of the UN Security Council held in December, as well as on other international platforms, which are in line with the primary mandate of the UN Security Council of maintenance of international security and peace, the universal values of human rights protection and, perhaps what is the most urgent at the moment, the understanding of the need to prevent Azerbaijan's aggressive actions and a new humanitarian catastrophe in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Procedurally, the format of the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is a discussion, it does not directly imply adoption of a document (resolution or statement). In addition, the 15 (permanent and non-permanent) members of the UN Security Council have the right to submit and initiate voting of draft resolutions of the UN Security Council. Not being a member of the UN Security Council, Armenia does not have such authority.
The discussion in the format of the UN Security Council provides an important platform, an opportunity to focus the attention of the international community on the possible catastrophic consequences of the situation, to activate the Council's efforts to address it and to foster their possible coordination and to outline the further steps.
Question: Is that the end of the process?
Answer: By no means. This is an ongoing process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia continues its activities in the UN and other platforms. Today, the international community, the members of the UN Security Council interested in real, lasting stability in the region must take clear steps, unite efforts in order to lead the developed understanding regarding the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor and the immediate resolution of the problem with effective use of existing mechanisms.
Question: Why was the emergency meeting of August 16 convened under the title "The letter of September 13 of the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN addressed to the President of the UN Security Council"? Why wasn't a new letter or application sent by Armenia?
Answer: After Armenia’s request to the UN Security Council after Azerbaijan's aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia in September 2022, a relevant agenda point of the UN Security Council was formed under the title you indicated. This is an accepted practice in the UN Security Council and has a very simple technical justification – not to burden the Security Council agenda with different formulations of the same or very similar issues.
I would like to emphasise that, in the letter of September 13th, Armenia brought to the attention of the UN Security Council the letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs which indicated Azerbaijan's armed attack and the ongoing aggressive actions against both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh highlighting that they threaten international peace and security.
Later, starting from December 2022, discussions regarding the blockade of the Lachin corridor and the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh took place with reference to the mentioned letter and under the relevant agenda point.
It is noteworthy that ahead of the both meetings in December 2022 and in August this year, Armenia presented concrete requests, letters to the attention of the members of the UN Security Council aimed at raising the issue of the blockade of the Lachin corridor. In addition, several dozen letters were distributed addressing the blockade and the humanitarian crisis both in the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and other international platforms.
