Statement on the World Refugee Day as delivered by Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan at the 1526th meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council

03 July, 2025

Mr. Chairperson,

We would like to thank the delegation of Canada for raising the current issue on World Refugee Day. This observance presents a timely opportunity to recognize both the immense hardships that displaced people around the world continue to endure and their extraordinary resilience in the pursuit of safety and durable solutions. It also serves as a moment to reaffirm our collective commitment to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and OSCE documents.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia issued a statement underscoring the need for coordinated international efforts to address the rights and challenges faced by refugees. The Ministry emphasized that “only through genuine cooperation and shared responsibility can we ensure sustainable solutions. Armenia stands in solidarity with every person forced to flee their homes.”

Mr. Chairperson,

According to a recent report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 122 million people, or one in every 67 individuals worldwide, are currently displaced. This marks an increase of seven million people, or six percent, compared to the end of 2023. These figures are not just statistics. Each number represents a human life, individuals and families who have lost their homes, been separated from their loved ones, deprived of their religious and sacred sites, and uprooted from their communities and ancestral lands. Every refugee’s story is one of pain and resilience, often marked by persecution, exclusion, and the denial of fundamental human rights and dignity. Ongoing global instability, unresolved conflicts, and deepening insecurity continue to fuel these crises.

The Republic of Armenia has experienced several waves of refugee influxes, most notably in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Armenia provided shelter to hundreds of thousands of Armenians fleeing persecution, massacres and ethnic cleansing. More recently, in September 2023, we faced another large-scale humanitarian challenge, as approximately 115,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced and found refuge in Armenia within a matter of days. Many of these individuals have endured multiple displacements over the years, compounding their suffering and trauma.

Mr. Chairperson,

World Refugee Day serves as a stark reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the dignity, safety, and rights of all displaced persons. In this regard, I would like to express our deep appreciation to our international partners for their close cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Armenia in responding to the urgent needs of refugees. We remain committed to our joint efforts to ensure that refugees are given the opportunity to live in safety and dignity, and to rebuild their lives with hope and the prospect of a better future.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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