Human Rights Council

Expert Mechanism for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (MEDPA)

National Council of Western Armenia

Assembly of Armenians of Western Armenia

Geneva, 04.07.2022, fifteenth session 

Point 3. Study of treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between indigenous peoples and states, including peace agreements and reconciliation initiatives, and their constitutional recognition; Mr. President, as this is the first time I am speaking at this 15th EMRIP session, let me congratulate you on your election. I also want to thank the experts for the report that was submitted to us with paragraph 3, but I note that my legal dossier, which was sent on January 31, 2022, and you confirmed receipt of the latter, has not yet been taken into account in this report, so I am still waiting for your attention. The Armenian people are not only one of the first and indigenous peoples, but also one of the first states that stood at the origins of the existence of state structures around the world, operating today within the framework of the UN.

The issue of Western Armenia is certainly a delicate one, since it is a native state recognized in 1917-1920 by more than twenty states, but still under the territorial occupation. These states are still subjects of international law today, including Russia, France, the USA, Japan, Great Britain, Italy, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, Greece and Romania. These states, on the basis of several agreements and even treaties, including arbitration awards, have pledged to recognize the state of Western Armenia, its international borders and official documents that I have presented to you in this legal case.  This is in line with the constructive agreement regarding the indigenous population subjected to genocide. A genocide that has killed more than two million people, and which has not yet received any effective compensation, other than international recognition, for the victims without real consequences, although contracts have been signed. The proof of this is the Sevres Treaty, ratified by some states and not even ratified, but applied by other states. Indeed, Mr. President, the legal problem of Western Armenia, its indigenous population and civilization is an example for the study of all indigenous peoples who are considering the possibility of applying the right to self-determination and self-government.  The problem is relevant, since it was by denying internationally recognized rights that Azerbaijan allowed itself to unleash a military conflict against the Armenian population of Artsakh in 2020, which led to more than 15,000 victims, continuing to destroy the legacy of the thousand-year-old indigenous civilization of Artsakh to this day and declaring to listeners that international law does not exist. Therefore, the Genocide of Armenians continues, because the facts show that the genocide will continue until the crime is punished. However, even if the technical conditions allow it in part, the fact is that it is really impossible to erase the existence of the indigenous Armenian people from their land and country forever. Therefore, the time has come to build a common future based on reconciliation: taking into account their obligations and working with us on the conditions for their application, invite the states directly connected with Western Armenia since 1917, under the treaties signed during and after the  Genocide of Armenians. 

Thank you, Mr. President

Armenag Aprahamian

President of the National Council of Western Armenia