ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMED COUNTRY COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND NORMS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian yesterday addressed the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. As reported by the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, the V. Oskanian spoke about Armenia's commitment to the human rights international principles and norms, presenting Armenia's achievements in the field, including the repeal of the death penalty, the appointment of an ombudsperson, and legislative reforms. Touching upon today's grievances in the region, the Minister accentuated they are exactly the results of human rights abuses and called on the international community to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh population's inherent basic right to self-determination. V. Oskanian cited the recent killing of an Armenian officer in Budapest by an Azeri serviceman as an example of ethnic hatred. During his one-day visit to Geneva the head of the foreign department of Armenia met with Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen. The Ministers discussed the European Union's Wider Europe - New Neighborhood Program, and emphasized the importance of considering the inclusion of the Caucasus in that program, during the current Irish presidency of the EU. V. Oskanian also met with the Foreign Ministers of Switzerland, Estonia, Luxembourg and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy. The Armenian Minister paid a visit to UN Deputy Secretary-General, UN Geneva Office Director General Sergei Orjonikidze.