Developments around the Lachin Corridor and the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations are in the center of attention of members of the House of Representatives of the Canadian Parliament. Anahit Harutyunyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Canada and Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Azerbaijan were invited to participate in the hearings organized by the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and International Development. Before the start of the meeting, the head of the committee announced that the representative of Azerbaijan refused to appear in the debate, arguing that he did not receive instructions from Baku regarding participation in the debate.
Armenia’s Ambassador Anahit Harutyunyan made an opening speech, she emphasized that she would be happy to talk about the developing Armenian-Canadian relations, but reality dictates a different agenda.
Anahit Harutyunyan (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Canada) - As a result of Azerbaijan's aggression against Armenia and Artsakh, a security crisis has been created. The self-proclaimed environmental activists have blocked the corridor of Lachin for almost 2 months. Azerbaijan continues the policy of ethnic cleansing of Armenians. The assumption that there can be civil activists in Azerbaijan who can conduct such a campaign without the direct leadership of the authorities is unrealistic. After the signing of the statement on November 9, Armenia spared no effort to regulate relations with Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, instead of conducting negotiations in good faith, Azerbaijan continues its anti-Armenian rhetoric, refuses to return Armenian prisoners of war, and deliberately destroys Armenian cultural heritage.
Anahit Harutyunyan added that if Azerbaijan was interested in peace, it would not prevent the international community from entering the region.
Anahit Harutyunyan - Lack of condemnation or sanctions encourages the aggressor. The only way to guarantee stability in the South Caucasus is the continuous involvement of the international community. There should be no illusion that the use of force and the threat of force can ever be the basis for lasting peace.
To the question of Garnett Genuis, a member of the committee, how can Canada contribute to reducing the current tension, the Armenian ambassador to Canada said:
Anahit Harutyunyan - We highly appreciate the Canadian Government's statement after the blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the call to Azerbaijan to unblock the road. Canada can continue cooperation with allies, support the long-term EU civilian mission sent to Armenia. Sanctions and restrictions on cooperation with Azerbaijani business circles can also be effective. Canada can also put pressure on Turkey, as that country also has a negative influence in the region.
According to Anahit Harutyunyan, the fact that the USA, France, Canada, other European countries and structures call the situation created in the Lachin Corridor by its name - a blockade - is also important. At the same time, the Ambassador expressed concern that the negotiations have reached a dead end, as Azerbaijan is only interested in establishing peace on its own terms.
The Armenian diplomat also referred to the ambitions of the Azerbaijani side to get an extraterritorial corridor from Armenia.
Anahit Harutyunyan - The author of the corridor's rhetoric is the President of Azerbaijan, and he admits it. With that rhetoric, he wants to put pressure on Armenia in order to get an extraterritorial corridor. Armenia has clearly said that we exclude any extraterritorial corridor in the territory of Armenia. This principle fully corresponds to the statement of November 9.
The Ambassador concluded: peace cannot be imposed, it is possible only under conditions acceptable to all. Harutyunyan emphasized that Armenia is interested in a fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, and that is why it continues to negotiate.
Based on the results of the hearings, the Canadian Standing Committee on Foreign Relations will soon develop a draft action plan and present it to the Canadian Government.
