Message to Ilham Aliyev: Immediately End the Blockade, Says Former NATO Secretary General

We need an international peacekeeping mechanism that will guarantee the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. This was stated by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, President of the "Rasmussen Global" organization and former NATO Secretary General, during a broadcast on Public TV.

"I am here at the invitation of the Armenian government to help Armenia establish stronger ties, especially with the EU and the West. Armenia needs reliable friends, and I will try to help you gain those friends," said Rasmussen.

According to him, the blockade of the Lachin corridor is inhumane and illegal. "I had the opportunity to speak with people who lived in Nagorno-Karabakh. One of them was a nurse named Anush, who told me about the lack of food and medicine. Weeks ago, the International Court of Justice made a ruling, and this is a binding decision. This blockade is a violation of international law," he noted.

He sent a message to Ilham Aliyev urging him to immediately end the blockade: "I believe President Aliyev does not want to become an international aggressor like President Putin. I would encourage the EU to maximize its pressure on Aliyev. As we know, the EU already has energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, this could be an excellent platform to tell Aliyev that he cannot violate international law and remain unpunished.

Additionally, I encourage the EU to increase its observer mission in Armenia to ensure that Azerbaijan refrains from further aggression against Armenia and to guarantee that the peace treaty is fair in that it will guarantee the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. We need an international peacekeeping mechanism that will guarantee the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh," Rasmussen added.

According to Rasmussen, the Armenian Prime Minister made a very brave statement, indicating that the most important thing for Armenia is to guarantee the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh: "This is more important than the status. This is the flexibility that Pashinyan has shown, and I would expect the same flexibility from Azerbaijan. Neither the US nor the EU will accept an attack on Armenia. Armenia has the right to exist. Just because the West has energy interests with Azerbaijan does not mean we will turn a blind eye to aggression against Armenia," said Rasmussen.