Azərbaycan Respublikasının
BMT yanında
Daimi Nümayəndəliyi

Permanent Mission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan
to the United Nations

633 Third Avenue, Suite 3210, New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel.: (212) 371-2559; Fax: (212) 371-2784

Statement at the Security Council open debate on the theme “Protecting civilians in armed conflict: addressing emerging threats, ensuring safety of civilians, humanitarian and UN personnel, journalists and media professionals and enhancing accountability mechanisms”

23 May 2025

Mr. President, at the outset, we would like to thank the delegation of Greece for convening this important annual open debate.

Azerbaijan strongly condemns all violations of the laws and customs of war and underscores the critical importance of ensuring accountability for such violations.

Mr. President, in the late 1980s Azerbaijan hosted nearly 300,000 refugees who were forced to leave their homes in Armenia. Many were killed or subjected to violence during the expulsion. The impunity for these acts has led to widespread atrocities. Numerous war crimes, crimes against humanity, acts of genocide, torture, terrorism and other serious offences were committed during the aggression against my country since the early 1990s, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, large-scale ethnic cleansing, the extensive destruction, cultural erasure and significant harm to the natural environment and resources.

Despite the end of the conflict and the progress achieved in advancing the peace agenda, serious challenges persist and continue to affect civilians.

The conflict has turned Azerbaijan into one of the most heavily mine-contaminated countries in the world. These hazards pose severe risks to civilians, obstruct the safe return of internally displaced persons to their homes in the liberated territories. As a consequence, the number of mine victims in the country continues to rise, reaching 394 since November 2020, of whom 70 lost their lives and 324 sustained severe injuries, most of them civilians, including journalists.

One of the key factors contributing to the high human toll is the placement of landmines and booby traps in civilian areas and objects, often far from the former front line.

Mr. President, the need to clarify the fate and whereabouts of nearly four thousand (3,990) missing Azerbaijani nationals is another pressing humanitarian issue. Among the missing, 779 are civilians, including 284 women, 316 elderly and 71 children. The remains of 176 persons discovered in 25 mass graves and other burial sites in the liberated territories, have been identified and returned to their families.

The rights of victims and their families demand that the obligations in respect of missing persons be promptly translated into action, synchronized with a zero tolerance to impunity.

Mr. President, States are under the obligation not only to prevent, but also to punish the most serious crimes. Azerbaijan has taken decisive steps in that regard.

However, most of the perpetrators continue to enjoy impunity. Moreover, the denial of serious violations, coupled with attempts to discredit and thereby obstruct justice through disinformation and smear campaigns constitute a clear contempt for international law and the rule of law.

Azerbaijan is committed to ending impunity for serious offences, promoting the rule of law, and build, strengthen and sustain peace and stability in the region.

In conclusion, regarding Armenia’s uses of invalid name in their statement for the locality in Azerbaijan, it is pertinent to remind that all States have a responsibility to recognize and use geographical names established by legitimate national authorities within their sovereign territory. Moreover, for meaningful progress toward lasting peace, this country must cease replicating false narratives that are only counterproductive to the normalization process.

Thank you.