Baku's Goal is to Force the People of Nagorno-Karabakh to Leave Their Homes: Pashinyan's Article in Le Monde

The international community must take measures to end the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, stated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a lengthy article published in France's leading newspaper Le Monde. Pashinyan recalled his meeting on July 15 with Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, noting that the Armenian side has demonstrated a genuine willingness to establish sustainable peace in the region.

“We are convinced that stable peace in the South Caucasus can bring significant benefits. In recent years, Armenia has become a stable democratic country in this complex region. Geographically, we are at a crossroads. If we manage to make progress on our peace agenda, normalize relations with our neighbors, and create reliable transportation and energy infrastructures, it will lead to increased prosperity, build bridges between Asia and Europe, and contribute to global trade and international stability,” he wrote.

The Prime Minister pointed out that despite the outline of a peace agreement, substantial obstacles remain to turn it into reality. According to Pashinyan, overcoming decades-old obstacles will only be possible with the strong support of partners who genuinely believe in establishing peace in the South Caucasus.

Pashinyan also emphasized the greatest obstacle to achieving peace today. “The greatest obstacle to peace is Azerbaijan's aggressive and illegal actions around Nagorno-Karabakh, specifically in the Lachin corridor, as well as at the borders of Armenia. The Lachin corridor is the only route connecting the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh to the outside world. Since December, access to this corridor has been severely restricted by Azerbaijan under the pretext of environmental protests. Now, Baku has gone further by installing a border checkpoint near the corridor's entrance, thereby obstructing access for the International Committee of the Red Cross. This means that the supply of food, medicine, and essential goods is seriously disrupted,” he stated.

“Azerbaijan is not only blocking the entry of people and vehicles but has also deliberately disrupted the gas and electricity supply to Nagorno-Karabakh. These actions are accompanied by increasing aggressive rhetoric and propaganda, as well as targeting of villagers by Azerbaijani forces,” Pashinyan noted. According to him, Baku's goal is to make life as difficult as possible for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and ultimately to force them to leave their homes. “This is a textbook example of ethnic cleansing, and if the international community does not respond, the situation will become another failure of humanity,” he warned.

The international community must take bold steps to end what could be termed a Sarajevo-style blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, Pashinyan stated. He reminded readers that the ongoing blockade by Baku is a violation of numerous decisions by the International Court of Justice. Five months have passed since the Court's ruling in February, and the situation has worsened, the Prime Minister highlighted.

The European Union has clearly stated that Azerbaijan's actions are unacceptable. It now needs to use its leverage to pressure its energy partner, Baku, to implement the mandatory ruling of the International Court of Justice without delay. The European Parliament and several parliaments of EU member states have adopted resolutions urging the EU to take this step.

The current crisis underscores why ensuring the rights and security of the 120,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh is crucial for sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. The EU and other international partners have a fundamental role to play in this regard.

In his article in Le Monde, Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that there should be official dialogue between the democratically elected authorities of Stepanakert and Baku. He believes that the effectiveness of this process requires the establishment of an international mechanism, as well as guarantees from international partners for security and compliance with commitments.

“The rights and security of the people living in Nagorno-Karabakh are a key issue that must be resolved to achieve dignified and lasting peace in our region,” Pashinyan pointed out while also addressing other unresolved issues. Azerbaijan still refuses to recognize internationally accepted borders, continues to occupy part of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, and has not returned prisoners of war, which it is obligated to do since 2020. Baku authorities are using force and the threat of force to achieve their expansionist goals. This should not be tolerated; the systematic torpedoing of the peace process must not go unanswered. Otherwise, the Azerbaijani forces besieging Nagorno-Karabakh will think they can act with impunity.

The Prime Minister appreciated the EU's mediating and supportive efforts, particularly the establishment of an EU mission in Armenia, which strengthens stability on the ground. Referring to EU-Armenia cooperation, Pashinyan emphasized that strengthening relations with the EU is one of the main foreign policy objectives of the Armenian government.

The steadfast commitment to a democratic future helped the Armenian people endure difficult times. This will continue as we strive to establish sustainable peace in the region. There is currently a window of opportunity to reach such an agreement. The Armenian government is committed to this process and has taken significant steps to achieve it. In this context, Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the need for European and partner support to ensure that Baku fulfills its commitments and legal obligations. The Prime Minister is confident that if this is achieved, everyone will benefit from a sustainable peace agreement.