Armenian President speaks on Artsakh, Genocide in UN
September 23, 2011 – 22:39 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan addressed the 66th
UN General Assembly.
`I wish to recognize the important choice of the general debate theme
for this session and highlight the role of mediation in the settlement
of disputes by peaceful means and as a means of preventing the
resumption of hostilities…. It is particularly worth mentioning the
engagement of regional organizations that have built-up an enormous
experience in mediation and have an in-depth knowledge of the
political, cultural, and military realities on the ground. The success
of mediation hinges, among other things, upon the articulation of a
clearly-defined mandate. A case in point for us is the mission of the
OSCE Minsk Group in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,’
President Sargsyan said.
`Three years ago, when I had the honor to speak from this rostrum, I
stated that the time has come for seriously considering the exercise
of the people’s right to self-determination in the 21st century. We
are today witnessing new cases of the exercise of this inalienable
right. In this context, I would like to congratulate the newly-elected
193rd member of the United Nations Organization, the Republic of South
Sudan. Its path to having a place in this august hall has been long
and difficult, but the people of South Sudan, through the free
expression of will, exercised their right to live sovereignly and
independently, thus crossing the path that many of the UN member
states present here today have crossed. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh
made the same choice two decades ago by exercising their right to
self-determination, by withstanding the war unleashed by Azerbaijan,
and surviving bloodshed to earn their right to live in freedom,’ he
said.
Touching on the issue of the Armenian Genocide, President Sargsyan
said: `The Genocide of the Armenians perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire
has been recognized and condemned by numerous countries, parliaments,
international organizations, and genocide scholars’ community.
Unfortunately, the same does not hold true for the Republic of Turkey,
which continues to engage in a policy of denying this atrocious crime
committed against humanity. We unequivocally welcome the clear
position adopted by the international community in precluding any
possibility of immunity or pardon for perpetrators of genocide or
other crimes against humanity. Without recognition and condemnation,
it will be impossible to develop and implement effective mechanisms of
prevention, which is one of the UN’s priorities. Armenia will
contribute its most to the recognition, punishment, and prevention of
genocides.’