United Nations A/75/370–S/2020/959 General Assembly Distr.: General 30 September 2020 Security Council Original: English General Assembly Security Council Seventy-fifth session Seventy-fifth year Agenda items 34, 71 and 135 Prevention of armed conflict Right of peoples to self-determination The responsibility to protect and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity Letter dated 30 September 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General I have the honour to enclose herewith the statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia dated 29 and 30 September 2020 (annex I) and the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh dated 28 September 2020 (annex II) regarding attempts by Azerbaijan to expand its aggressive actions to the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the involvement of the Turkish armed forces, as well as serious violations of international humanitarian law by the Azerbaijani armed forces. I kindly request that the present letter and its annexes be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 34, 71 and 135, and of the Security Council. (Signed) Mher Margaryan Ambassador Permanent Representative 20-12808 (E) 051020 *2012808* A/75/370 S/2020/959 Annex I to the letter dated 30 September 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General Statement by the Foreign Ministry of Armenia on the disinformation of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan 29 September, 2020 We completely deny the accusations of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan against Armenia on shelling of the Dashkesan region of Azerbaijan from the Vardenis region of Armenia. This disinformation is absolutely false and is aimed at preparing grounds for expanding the geography of hostilities, including the aggression against the Republic of Armenia. We strongly condemn the attempts of Azerbaijan to further destabilize regional peace and security, for the consequences of which the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan bears full responsibility. Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia on the attempt of aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia 29 September, 2020, 12:45 This morning, the Foreign Ministry of Armenia issued a statement revealing the Azerbaijani disinformation, which was aimed at preparing grounds for military operations in the direction of the Vardenis region of the Republic of Armenia. Minutes after this disinformation the Azerbaijani armed forces attacked the civilian-military infrastructure in the Vardenis region, including targeting the civilian population, as a result of which one civilian was killed. In contempt of the continuing calls of the international community to end the hostilities, Azerbaijan, with the active encouragement, political and military support of Turkey, is expanding the geography of hostilities to the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh will give adequate military-political response to Azerbaijan’s consistent attempts to undermine regional security and peace. Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia on the involvement of the Turkish armed forces 30 September, 2020 On September 29, F-16 multifunctional fighter of the Turkish Air Forces, with base in the “Ganja” airport of Azerbaijan, downed within the airspace of the Republic of Armenia in Vardenis region the SU-25 Fighter of the Armenian Armed Forces which was carrying out combat tasks to repel the attacks of Azerbaijan on military and civilian objects. Major Valeri Danelin, pilot of the Armed Forces of Armenia, was killed. This is not the first provocative action of the Turkish air forces. Since appearing in Azerbaijan, the Turkish air forces have been carrying out provocative flights along 2/4 20-12808 A/75/370 S/2020/959 the line of contact between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. During the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan, they in fact have been providing air support to the combat units of the Azerbaijani army. Notably, provocative flights by Turkey have been carried out along the Armenian-Turkish border as well, on certain instances crossing and violating the airspace of Armenia. On September 27, in the same section of the Armenian- Azerbaijani border, a Turkish F-16 airplane violated the Armenia air space and launched missiles at the Vardenis region. The Turkish air force appeared in Azerbaijan during the large-scale Turkish- Azerbaijani military drills held from July 29 to August 13 and, since then, has not been withdrawn from Azerbaijan. The provocative actions of the Turkish armed forces seriously undermine the regional security and hinder the efforts of the international community to cease the hostilities. International community called on the external actors to refrain from escalating the conflict, and Turkey should heed these calls. We strongly condemn Turkey’s provocative actions and demand the immediate withdrawal of the Turkish armed forces, including the air force from the conflict zone. 20-12808 3/4 A/75/370 S/2020/959 Annex II to the letter dated 30 September 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh 28.09.2020 Azerbaijan’s large-scale armed attack on the Republic of Artsakh, which has continued since 27 September, is accompanied by serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflicts. In particular, in their aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, the Azerbaijani armed forces intentionally attack civilian objects that are not military targets, use prohibited methods and means of warfare that can cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering, as well as use indiscriminate weapons. As a result of the criminal actions of Azerbaijan, there were casualties among the civilian population of Artsakh. Serious concern is caused by the incoming information that mercenaries from the Middle East are being recruited through Turkey for participation in the hostilities on the side of Azerbaijan. Such actions by Azerbaijan constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law, in particular Geneva Convention relative to Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and amount to war crimes. It should be noted that both the Republic of Artsakh (since 26 January 1993) and Azerbaijan are parties to this Convention. This latest aggression of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh should be viewed in the context of widespread and systematic attacks on the civilian Armenian population, undertaken by the Azerbaijani side both in time of war and peace from the very beginning of the National Liberation Movement of Artsakh, and to this day. Atrocities against the Armenian population in Sumgait, Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan, forcible deportation of the entire Armenian population from Azerbaijan, war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces both during the war in 1990s and in April 2016, continuing violations of the fundamental rights of citizens of the Republic of Artsakh and preventing them to exercise their inherent rights manifest a crime against humanity. The Azerbaijani side is once again trying to put itself above international law. At the same time, the wrongful acts of Azerbaijan each time become more and more threatening both to the lives of the civilian population and for peace and security in the region as a whole, which is contrary to the UN Charter. The statements by representatives of international organizations on the need for an urgent cessation of hostilities should be viewed in this context. The statements of political and public figures from various states about the need to hold Azerbaijan accountable deserve particular attention. We believe this is the most effective mechanism to ensure Azerbaijan’s compliance with its obligations as a member of the international community, as well as to prevent its further intentions to commit internationally wrongful acts. The international recognition of Artsakh is the most efficient in the toolkit available to the international community for maintaining regional peace and security. Endowing the Republic of Artsakh with international legal personality will add to the Republic’s military means of ensuring security also legal mechanisms to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens. 4/4 20-12808 .