Baku Denies Claims That Azerbaijan's Ambassador Was Summoned by Dutch Foreign Ministry

Baku has refuted reports that Azerbaijan's ambassador was summoned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Federation of Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands had earlier issued a statement indicating that the ambassador was summoned due to Azerbaijan's failure to comply with the Hague court's ruling dated February 22.

A spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Aykhan Hajiyev, stated that this news does not correspond to reality.

The Federation previously informed that the Dutch Foreign Ministry had summoned Azerbaijan's ambassador and conveyed the necessity to comply with the International Court of Justice's ruling and to open the Lachin corridor.

It was noted that 13 parliamentary groups in the Netherlands have submitted written questions to Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra regarding the blockade of the Lachin corridor and the decision made by the International Court of Justice on February 22.

In his responses, Hoekstra agreed with the parliamentarians, stating that Azerbaijan is not adhering to the court's decision, which stipulates that Azerbaijan must utilize all means at its disposal to ensure the unhindered movement of people, vehicles, and cargo through the Lachin corridor in both directions.

In a letter to the parliament, the foreign minister emphasized that the decisions of international courts are legally binding; therefore, the Netherlands has publicly called on the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with the ruling.

According to reports, the head of the Dutch Foreign Ministry has repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the blockade of the Lachin corridor, including in bilateral discussions with Azerbaijani authorities and during recent meetings between the Netherlands' Prime Minister and the President of Azerbaijan.

FAON notes that the Dutch foreign minister has also conveyed these concerns in several conversations with his Azerbaijani counterpart and expressed them during various international conferences, as well as through EU statements.

Foreign Minister Hoekstra has indicated that the court's decision must be fully implemented, which means that Azerbaijan must ensure the free movement of people, vehicles, and cargo through the Lachin corridor in both directions.