HRC 57 Session: Item 3 – Interactive Dialogue with the Working group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding exercise of the right of[...]

Delivered by Mrs. Hrachuhi Katvalyan, Deputy Permanent Representative

President,

Armenia welcomes the Working Group on Mercenaries.

We highly appreciate the productive cooperation developed with the Working Group, which has been especially effective during its visit last year to Armenia. We were particularly glad that the Working Group specifically commended Armenia for its commitment to human rights. It noted that "Armenia can play a pioneering role in the Caucasus". It further stated that Armenia "provides a positive example in that it has not followed the trend of contracting private military and security companies for core government functions such as military services."

We are looking forward to translate the recommendations of the WG into actions and we rely on further cooperation with the Working Group to that end.

We appreciate the attention of the Working Group extended to the use of mercenaries in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The joint press release of the Working Group and other mandate holders noted that the mercenaries recruited by Azerbaijan were "affiliated with armed groups and individuals that, in some cases, have been accused of war crimes and serious human rights abuses."

The human rights violations committed in this context still remain unaccountable.

Thank you