Opening of the Agdam-Askeran Route is an Important Step That Should Also Contribute to the Reopening of the Lachin Corridor: Charles Michel

The office of EU President Charles Michel has addressed the entry of the Russian humanitarian convoy into Stepanakert via the Agdam-Askeran route, discussing the need to unblock the Lachin corridor and the importance of direct dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert.

“In line with the elements and proposals publicly outlined in our statement of September 1, 2023, President Michel has continued to be closely involved in advancing these and other approaches, with a primary focus on alleviating tensions and addressing the humanitarian situation faced by the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the statement noted.

“In particular, during the phone conversations on September 9, President Michel had intensive discussions with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the G20 summit held in New Delhi. These efforts, supported daily by his office and Toivo Klaar, aim to de-escalate tensions and devise solutions for the humanitarian access for the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

“In this context, we acknowledge the passage of the Russian humanitarian convoy via the Agdam-Askeran route today. We understand the sensitivity surrounding this development. Our expectation is that it will encourage the local population to resume regular humanitarian deliveries. The situation on the ground is rapidly deteriorating; it is crucial to ensure the supply of essential goods to the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The opening of the Agdam-Askeran route today is an important step that should also contribute to the reopening of the Lachin Corridor. We call on all parties involved to demonstrate responsibility and flexibility to ensure that both the Lachin and Agdam-Askeran routes are utilized. The difficult situation on the ground has persisted for far too long. It is now vital to find sustainable and mutually acceptable solutions to ensure humanitarian access, especially with the approach of autumn and winter seasons.”

“We reaffirm our strong conviction that the Lachin corridor must be unblocked in accordance with past agreements and the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and emphasize our belief in the usefulness of alternative supply routes for the benefit of the local population. The EU expects that today’s developments will lead to more concrete steps in the coming days and weeks, related to the dialogue on the rights and security of the Armenians in Baku and Nagorno-Karabakh, reconciliation efforts, and the overall Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process.”