Armenian diplomats have spoken of violations of human rights in Azerbaijan and Turkey to the UN. Mher Margaryan, representing Armenia, made a speech at the 32nd session of the Council of Human Rights of the UN.
He recalled the obvious manifestations of xenophobia and racism in Azerbaijan, who have recently been documented by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance and the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The speech of Mr. Margaryan is presented below:
In response to Azerbaijan
We have already drawn attention to this advice on the scandalous practices of Azerbaijan regarding racism and xenophobia, these are well documented and reported more recently by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance ( ECRI) and the UN Committee on the elimination of racial discrimination. The Azerbaijani authorities regularly cite 30,000 Armenians living in Azerbaijan, which is the same contradiction with their own census data quoted in the current report. This production was also noted by the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention of the Council of Europe for protection of national minorities in its third opinion on Azerbaijan adopted in October 2012, indicating that only 306 people, not 30,000, indicate an Armenian ethnicity in the census of 2009. We are not aware of a movement of people with Armenian origin from Azerbaijan. If the Azerbaijani government has such information why not share it with the international institutions as well? There are many facts of third country citizens who carry an Armenian surname who are denied entry into the country, which are held at checkpoints and airports that are returned. Is it not a contemporary form of discrimination and racism in flagrant violation of the Durban Declaration and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. We urge the Azerbaijani delegation not to air a new wave of hatred and intolerance manifestation within this Council.
In response to Turkey
It is not our intention to raise the issue of the Armenian Genocide recognition or refusal by Turkey. Instead, we will address the manifestations of racism and racial discrimination and xenophobia that accompanies active campaign of denial by the Turkish authorities. Free hateful threats and insults, spread hatred and intolerance towards Armenians and Turks who publicly acknowledge the genocide and to appeal to the government to do the same has become a norm in the political discourse of the Turkish authorities. The situation has reached a point where politicians with Turkish origin in other countries who dare to certify the fact of genocide or vote for their wider recognition are stigmatized, subjected to derogatory labeling, are pushed by blood tests laboratories by the highest authorities of Turkey. Define people by their blood is nothing less than a total manifestation of racism and xenophobia. We believe that these comments should not continue and must be properly addressed by the mechanisms of the Council and of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Thank you.”