The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is not a separate case of violation of trilateral agreements, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The Armenian Foreign Minister recalled the killing of three employees of the passport department of the Nagorno-Karabakh police by the Azerbaijani subversive group on March 5. “On March 6, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation clearly recorded that the incident was committed by the Azerbaijani side,” the Minister noted and added that the purpose of deploying Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh was to prevent provocations, ensure the safety of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and create conditions for the restoration of normal life.
However, according to him, a number of events are taking place, such as the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh villages, the keeping of Armenian prisoners of war, the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the murders of policemen and civilians, regular violations of the ceasefire, Baku's rejection of Article 7 of the UN Refugee Convention under the auspices of the High Commissioner's Office, the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories, which came under the control of Azerbaijan.
Mirzoyan noted that Azerbaijan has unilaterally started the process of relocating Azerbaijanis to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, while the Armenian side is not doing it due to the lack of an appropriate international mechanism.
“Our assessment remains the same: the military and political leadership of Azerbaijan is preparing ethnic cleansing,” said the foreign minister.
The head of the Armenian diplomacy emphasized the important role of the Russian peacekeeping force in preventing a humanitarian disaster in Nagorno-Karabakh after the closure of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. According to him, the created situation shows that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh needs security guarantee mechanisms and international participation in the settlement of the protracted conflict.
“International participation in the prevention of genocide is necessary, it is also necessary to send an international fact-finding mission to the Lachin Corridor area and Nagorno-Karabakh. We expect cooperation with the Russian side in this issue,” said Mirzoyan.
He reminded that Azerbaijan continues to occupy the sovereign territory of Armenia at the same time. Moreover, the leadership of Azerbaijan now claims almost the entire territory of Armenia.
“Baku's direct threats are reflected in recent statements that Armenia cannot live peacefully on 29,000 square kilometers if it does not accept Azerbaijan's conditions. However, we reaffirm that only negotiations can provide such a solution that will ensure stability and peace,” Mirzoyan stated.
