Armenia wins seat at UN Human Rights CouncilOctober 18, 2019 - 10:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - 14 new members, including Armenia, were elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday, October 17, following a secret ballot held in the General Assembly Hall in New York. The Council, which meets throughout the year at the UN Office in Geneva, is an international body, within the UN system, made up of 47 States, and is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. It has the power to launch fact-finding missions and establish commissions of inquiry into specific situations. Three times a year, it reviews the human rights records of UN Member States, in a special process designed to give countries the chance to present the actions they have taken, and what they’ve done, to advance human rights. This is known as the Universal Periodic Review. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described Armenia's election as "a strong testimony of recognition by the international community of our democratic transformation and substantial progress in protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms." Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, meanwhile, commented on the "great result" and said Armenia is "committed to working hard and cooperating with all our partners in promoting the human rights agenda." Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, Marshall Islands, Republic of Korea, Poland,Libya, Mauritania, Namibia and Sudan also won seats in the Human Rights Council. The newly elected countries will serve for three years and take up their seats after December 31. As only 47 of the UN’s 193 Member States can sit on the Council at any one time, an equal number will be giving up their places. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |