People from conflict areas should be involved in int’l cooperation: FM

PanARMENIAN.Net - The ‪UN Charter guides the member states to take effective collective measures for the prevention of threats to peace, Armenia’s Foreign Minister said at the ‪UNDP 50th Anniversary Ministerial Meeting.

“Over the years the concept of prevention has been gradually and effectively occupying an important space in the international efforts of building peace and security,” Edward Nalbandian said. “However, conflicts continue emerging, with many of them turning into violence, consuming significant resources of the international community and thus attracting stronger focus to the improvement of the prevention capabilities.”

According to him, the unambiguous implementation of the international commitments, in particular those enshrined in the UN Charter on developing friendly relations among nations based also on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, can enormously contribute to the prevention efforts. History teaches us that there is a direct connection between the brutal impediment of the rightful exercise of human rights and violent conflicts, the Minister stressed. Usually, the countries, which don’t respect peoples’ fundamental right to self-determination, are also seriously violating human rights, Nalbandian noted.

“The link between global security and development is beyond doubt. Some protracted or frozen conflicts may continue for decades on the territories inhabited by people whose aspirations to achieve sustainable development goals are as legitimate as anyone else’s. Pending settlement to the final legal status of certain territories, particularly those subject to negotiations under agreed format of conflict resolution, should not be used as an excuse to violate the legitimate right of the people to development. After all, the “Leave no one behind” commitment is not about invoking a justification for exclusion but finding ways for inclusion. The international community should find ways to ensure involvement of the people from conflict areas in the international cooperation aimed at achieving sustainable development goals. The operation of international organizations and agencies, such as the UNDP, should be in no manner restricted for the people in the conflict areas,” the Armenian foreign policy chief said.

Also, he stressed the importance of transforming the challenge imposed by conflicts into an opportunity of establishing positive agenda of partnership including through genuine confidence building among parties to the conflict.

“Common economic or environmental projects among parties to the conflict can entail first steps towards building trust and confidence and what is more important, a common vision of peace,” Nalbandian concluded.