Armenia: Welcoming peaceful nature of protests, UN chief asks for continued stability

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Secretary-General António Guterres.

24 April 2018

Peace and Security

Following the resignation of Armenia’s Prime Minister in the wake of mass protests, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the continued respect of the rule of law and human rights, as well as for the maintenance of peace and stability in Armenia and the wider region.


The Secretary-General has “taken note” of the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, and “welcomes the peaceful nature of the unfolding events and encourages all relevant actors to continue to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue,” Mr. Guterres’ Spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement issued late Monday.

According to media reports, Mr. Sargsyan served as president for a decade before being elected last week as prime minister with sweeping powers.

The co-chairs of a group within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), namely France, Russia and the United States, has issued an appeal urging all sides to intensify efforts toward a peaceful negotiated solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict involving Armenia and Azerbaijan and to prevent any potential escalations along the line of contact.

The Secretary-General “echoes” this appeal, said the Spokesman.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1008082

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