Activate Efforts for the Opening of the Lachin Corridor: OSCE PA Vice-President

The Special Representative of the OSCE PA for the South Caucasus and Vice-President, Joan Pons (Spain), expressed concern about the humanitarian impact on the lives of Armenian residents in Artsakh and called for the resumption of constructive dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"I have been closely following reports on current events regarding the Lachin corridor, and I am very concerned about the impact on the daily lives of the local residents in that area, as the availability of essential goods and services has been restricted for several weeks now. While I appreciate the ongoing efforts to alleviate the consequences of the protests along the Lachin road, especially the efforts by the ICRC, I urge all parties to intensify their efforts to ensure a prompt resolution of the situation," Pons stated.

Vice-President Pons also supported the call made by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Bujar Osmani, to all parties to de-escalate tensions and enter into constructive and effective dialogue aimed at building trust and resolving relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Every time political disagreements persist and negotiations can reach an impasse, our governments should not become stagnant and resort to methods that sacrifice our citizens in the face of our inability to reach a political consensus," Pons emphasized.

“We must also remember that the longer this dispute remains unresolved, the more it not only negatively affects the fragile peace process but also undermines the foundations for future peaceful coexistence in the region.” The Special Representative reminded that the OSCE has tools available to overcome the current crisis, but the parties must fully utilize them, as well as other governments and parliaments, to support this process impartially and ensure the advancement of constructive negotiations based on the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. Pons emphasized that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is ready to support this process wherever it is deemed necessary and beneficial.