Catherine Colonna and Ararat Mirzoyan Held a Phone Conversation

On August 15, Armenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, as reported by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister Mirzoyan presented details to his French counterpart regarding the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh due to the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, emphasizing that it could turn into a real humanitarian disaster in the eyes of the international community.

“Ararat Mirzoyan outlined the severe conditions created for the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, which numbers 120,000, particularly highlighting the acute shortage of food and medication for vulnerable groups. He stressed the imperative need to ensure the full and uninterrupted activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the only international humanitarian organization with access to Nagorno-Karabakh, through the Lachin corridor.

Minister Mirzoyan also touched upon Armenia's request for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. He noted that Azerbaijan has not complied with numerous targeted messages from international partners and organizations, and by keeping the Lachin corridor blocked for eight months, it violates not only the statement of November 9, 2020, but also the decisions of the International Court of Justice from February 22 and July 6.

Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that the continuous deepening of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh could jeopardize Armenia's and the international community's efforts to establish lasting peace in the region, underscoring the need for effective use of existing mechanisms and concrete steps toward lifting the blockade of the Lachin corridor.

In response, the French minister, as noted by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the call for the restoration of the free movement of goods, people, and products in both directions through the Lachin corridor, as well as for the uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity to the population.

She reminded that Azerbaijan must fulfill its international obligations, specifically carrying out the interim measures specified in the International Court's decision on February 22, which are mandatory.

The French minister assured her Armenian counterpart of France's full mobilization to support the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, which will contribute an additional 3 million euros to the humanitarian operation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Finally, both ministers also addressed the incident that occurred during the EU monitoring mission (EUMA) patrol at the Armenian border. The French side expressed its concern regarding these incidents and fully supported the European mission.