Blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh is Not an Isolated Incident: Ararat Mirzoyan

The blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh is not an isolated incident and must be viewed as part of Azerbaijan's large-scale and systematic policy aimed at the ethnic cleansing of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh by creating intolerable living conditions. This statement was made by the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during a special session of the OSCE Permanent Council.

“Today, through the blockade of the Lachin corridor, the Azerbaijani side has created a humanitarian crisis with far-reaching objectives. It was clear from the outset that this blockade was a pre-planned operation, coordinated and funded by the Azerbaijani authorities, using so-called 'eco-activists' as a cover for the credible denial of their actions,” he said.

Mirzoyan emphasized that Azerbaijan's actions are a blatant violation of the 6th point of the trilateral statement of November 9, which clearly states that “the Lachin corridor remains under the control of the Russian Federation’s peacekeeping forces. The Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of movement of citizens, vehicles, and cargo in both directions along the Lachin corridor.”

“The humanitarian crisis is worsening day by day and requires immediate and targeted intervention from the international community. We cannot stand aside and watch as people slowly starve to death due to political games and perhaps geopolitical calculations. The time to act is now,” stated the Armenian Foreign Minister.

In Mirzoyan's opinion, pressure on Azerbaijan should be intensified to ensure that it fulfills its commitments. Azerbaijan must be held accountable for its actions.

“Azerbaijan aims to compel the population of Nagorno-Karabakh to leave their homeland and homes. The recent statement by the Azerbaijani president, in which he offers to expel those Armenians who do not wish to become citizens of Azerbaijan, testifies to their intention to carry out ethnic cleansing,” the foreign minister noted.

According to him, it is imperative to send an international fact-finding mission to assess the humanitarian situation on the ground in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor, as well as to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh for relevant UN bodies.

“It is clear that the OSCE is not experiencing its best days at the moment, and the situation in the South Caucasus is not the only crisis the organization is facing. At the same time, we believe that all conflicts in the OSCE responsibility space should be a subject of proper attention by the organization and its bodies. The OSCE, together with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group, has been engaged in the political resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from the beginning. Despite all the challenges, the Minsk Group still bears responsibility, as the political resolution of the conflict has not yet taken place,” stated Mirzoyan. He added that Armenia believes the OSCE can play an important role not only in achieving peace but also in maintaining it through the involvement of its structures.