On September 21, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian started his visit to New York.
At the headquarter of the United Nations Organization the Foreign Minister of Armenia participated in and delivered speech at the UN General Assembly meeting devoted to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals declared by the UN summit in 2000. In his speech Minister Nalbandian touched upon the steps that were undertaken and would be undertaken in that direction in Armenia, as well as the registered progress.
Within that context Edward Nalbandian also touched upon the security issues. With that regard he particularly mentioned. “Recognizing that security and development are so closely intertwined, in the Millennium Declaration governments pledge to spare no effort to free peoples from the scourge of war, whether within or between states. In that context, proliferation of arms and weapons continues to pose a threat not only to peace and security, but also, and increasingly, to economic and social development. It is unfortunate that our region faces that danger.
Azerbaijan continues to reject the proposal to come to an agreement on Non-Use of Force or Threat of Force. This goes against the underpinning principles of the United Nations, the organization, whose founders came together to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Today we witness militaristic stance, multifold increase of military budget, war rhetoric and provocations masterminded by that country which create obstacles in the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the region.
While we register on our reached progress and share our concerns, there are people that fall in the cracks of international community’s attention. The people of Nagorno Karabakh do their best to provide for better living and protection of all human rights in their territory, yet they do it without the support of the international community. The Nagorno Karabagh has yet to await for relevant assistance programs. Unless we learn to undo the harm that we cause to innocent people by our inaction, we would not be in a position to report that all Millennium Development Goals have been achieved, that equality and equity at global level is achieved.”
In the course of the visit to New-York, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian is to have meetings with the UN leadership, as well as with his counterparts from different countries and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. On September 25, Edward Nalbandian will deliver a speech at the session of the UN General Assembly. On September 26, the Foreign Minister of Armenia is to leave for Boston, where he will have a meeting with the representatives of the Armenian community. On the next day the Armenian Foreign Minister is scheduled to have a speech at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of the Tufts University.