February 24, 2025 - 19:05 AMT
Mirzoyan: Armenia committed to sustainable regional peace

Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, speaking at the high-level session of the 58th UN Human Rights Council, congratulated Switzerland’s representative, Jürg Lauber, and other members of the council’s bureau on their election, reaffirming Armenia’s readiness to support their mission.

He emphasized that the modern world continues to face severe conflicts, forced displacements, and gross human rights violations, making the strengthening of the UN's human rights framework more urgent than ever.

Mirzoyan stated that the scale and severity of crimes and violations, coupled with collective inefficacy in prevention and accountability, threaten the fundamental values underpinning the UN and the international human rights system. He noted that in these circumstances, the role of the human rights system has significantly increased, with more stakeholders, including civil society representatives, engaging with the Human Rights Council.

“Armenia, committed to its agenda of establishing peace and stability in our region, has made several constructive proposals to Azerbaijan. These include a peace treaty, opening transport infrastructure, mutual arms control and verification mechanisms, and a strategic agreement addressing key issues. We firmly believe that a constructive response from both sides, further engagement, and the demonstration of political will can greatly contribute to opening a new era of peace in our region. In this context, I would like to once again reaffirm Armenia’s readiness to turn the page on hostility and establish institutionalized peace. Not only are we prepared, but we remain unwavering on this path,” he said.

The foreign minister highlighted that Armenia continues to develop democratic institutions, ensure judicial independence, and fight corruption, even in complex situations, in pursuit of a fairer society. He recalled that the country recently established a national mechanism for international accountability to coordinate further steps in human rights protection.

Mirzoyan also touched on international initiatives organized in Armenia, including the 5th Global Forum "Against the Crime of Genocide" and the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, which focused on genocide prevention and the protection of cultural heritage.

Addressing regional developments, he noted that despite Armenia’s efforts, many challenges facing the country remain unresolved.