On February 26 in Geneva, within the UN Human Rights Council session framework, RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.

The interlocutors discussed several issues related to cooperation within the UN human rights protection system framework.

Reference was made to the steps and achievements in the direction of the protection of human rights and the strengthening of the rule of law in Armenia, thanks to which Armenia occupies leading positions in the region according to the ratings of various international authoritative structures.

Referring to the challenges in protecting human rights in different corners of the world, the importance of effective use of existing tools was emphasized because the opposite leads to failure in preventing severe violations and the repetition of catastrophic situations.

Referring to the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, Minister Mirzoyan presented the steps taken to address the needs and rights of the Armenian population forcibly displaced from their homeland.

During the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan and Volker Türk also exchanged thoughts on the latest developments in the South Caucasus. Minister Mirzoyan presented RA's approaches to critical issues regulating relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on unequivocal respect for the fundamental principles of territorial integrity, indivisibility of borders, and sovereignty. Minister Mirzoyan emphasized that it would be possible to move forward in the peace process in cases of apparent adherence to these principles, refrain from aggressive rhetoric in the region, and take steps to address the situation.