United Nations Security Council discusses the rule of law in maintenance of international peace and security

Baku, February 20 (AzerTAc). The United Nations Security Council has held an open debate on the promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security. Azerbaijan`s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said that chaired by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius the debate featured a speech by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Representatives of the member countries of the UN and the Security Council addressed the event. A representative of Azerbaijan drew the audience`s attention to the fact that “In recent years, international attention to the importance of the rule of law has significantly increased.” The practice of the Security Council has greatly contributed to that end. In its presidential statement of 19 January 2012 (S/PRST/2012/1), the Council, inter alia, emphasized the importance of the rule of law as a key element of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.” “Azerbaijan's consistent position with regard to the issue under consideration is well known and stems from its keen interest in contributing to the achievement of sustainable peace and development in our region and worldwide and from our practical experience in addressing the consequences of aggression, violent separatism, foreign military occupation and ethnic cleansing.” The Azerbaijani representative said: “At the end of 1987, the neighbouring Armenia openly laid claim to the territory of the Nagorn0-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Those claims culminated in the occupation of the territories of my country, killings of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians and in the expulsion of about 1 million Azerbaijanis from their homes in both Armenia and the occupied territories. Impunity still enjoyed by the perpetrators of the crimes committed during the conflict, among whom are those holding high political and military posts in Armenia, continues to impede progress in achieving the long-awaited peace and reconciliation between the two countries. Moreover, the glorification of terrorists and war criminals in Armenia, including raising them to the status of national heroes and bestowing State decorations on them, demonstrates how the leadership of Armenia is far from adhering to the rule of law and universal values of civilized relations. In that context, greater efforts are needed to ensure a unified approach to the rule of law and to address the major threats and challenges that continue to affect basic elements of the international legal order, to undermine the national unity, territorial integrity and stability of States, and to regenerate disregard and contempt for human rights.” “More resolute and targeted measures are required to end impunity for serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Unfortunately, as I noted above, not all such violations in some situations of armed conflict, including those of a protracted nature, have received due attention and a response at the international and regional levels. As a result, past wrongs left unpunished and unrecognized continue to impede progress in achieving the long-awaited peace in some parts of the world.” “Therefore, combating impunity is important not only for the purpose of prosecuting crimes and bringing those responsible to justice, the achievement of which is undoubtedly imperative per se, but also to ensure sustainable peace, truth and reconciliation. Such an approach to end impunity is located within the context of the settlement of conflicts and provides that no peace settlement can be reached that is inconsistent with international law. It is clear that, in situations of protracted armed conflict, the lack of agreement on political issues cannot be used as a pretext for not establishing the truth concerning gross violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law,” The Azerbaijani delegate said: “It is essential that peace efforts and peace agreements never encourage, accept or tolerate the situations achieved by the unlawful use of force and other egregious violations of international law, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and ethnic cleansing. Such efforts should never promise amnesties or encourage any other form of immunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. In any event, the conflict resolution initiatives considered by the Security Council and regional arrangements must ensure that peace and justice work together effectively.”