At the meeting with the UN Deputy Secretary General, the Foreign Minister presented the situation in Lachin

On December 15, RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with UN Secretary-General for Political and Peacekeeping Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo in New York.

During the meeting, Minister Mirzoyan referred to the latest developments in the process of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, and the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia noted that Azerbaijan's fanatical ambitions, aggressions against the territorial integrity of Armenia, the ongoing occupation of the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia, and bellicose and anti-Armenian statements create an unstable situation in the region, full of security and humanitarian challenges.

We expect certain steps from the EU that will stop Azerbaijan's genocidal policy - HRD of Artsakh

The European Union, being a structure based on human rights and freedoms, has no right to remain silent about the crimes that Azerbaijan is committing against Artsakh.

Artsakh human rights defender Gegham Stepanyan expressed such a view during the protest action in front of the office of the European Union delegation in Armenia.

He emphasized that the purpose of the actions initiated by him at the embassies of different countries in RA is to achieve direct condemnation of Azerbaijan's provocations by the international community and to push for practical steps aimed at overcoming the humanitarian crisis facing Artsakh.

Nikol Pashinyan commented on the situation in Lachin Corridor

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be called anything other than a humanitarian crisis.  Moreover, this crisis arose as a result of Azerbaijan's failure to fulfill its international obligations.  RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this at the beginning of the government session, referring to the situation in the Lachin Corridor.

 "Closing the Lachin Corridor is a direct and gross violation of the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020 by Azerbaijan on the simple grounds that according to point 6 of the said declaration, the Lachin Corridor is under the control of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees  is the safety of citizens, vehicles and cargo traffic," Pashinyan stated.

According to the RA Prime Minister, Azerbaijan's violations of the November 9, 2020 statement are of a chronic nature, and these violations are as follows: the first point of the statement states the cessation of fire and all military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

Pashinyan also made a post on his Twitter microblog about the closure of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijanis. 

"As a result of the closure of the Lachin corridor and cutting of the gas supply by Azerbaijan, 120.000 people in Nagorno Karabakh have appeared in the status of a hostage. Schools and kindergartens are forced to suspend work; 22000 children are deprived of the right to education.

As a result of the closure of Lachin corridor and cutting the gas supply by Azerbaijan, 120000 people in Nagorno Karabakh have appeared in the status of a hostage.  Schools and kindergartens are forced to suspend work; 22000 children are deprived of the right to education," Pashinyan wrote.

The international community should put pressure on Azerbaijan, we still don't see that pressure - Babayan 

According to Davit Babayan, Acting Foreign Minister of Artsakh, the reaction of the international community regarding the closure of the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia should be turned into pressure.

"There are many reactions, the so-called first phase of the reaction, but after that, concrete action must be taken. In order for Azerbaijan to stop this genocidal step, there must be political pressure on it, we don't see that pressure yet, and maybe we don't feel it yet, when the road opens, we will see. Apparently, Azerbaijan is also slapping the international community," said Davit Babayan.

According to the Artsakh official, Russian peacekeepers should be given an international mandate so that they have the authority to impose peace.

The fate of 30.000 children in danger in Nagorno-Karabakh - Henrikh Mkhitaryan

On Monday, Azerbaijan blocked the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and the outside world. This is the only road of life that is used to deliver all cargo to the Nagorno Karabakh population-from food to medicines, Armenian football player Henrikh Mkhitaryan wrote on Twitter.

"The 120.000 residents of the Republic, including 30.000 children, have found themselves in a complete blockade.

Moreover, today Azerbaijan has cut off the gas supply as well - to a devastating effect. Considering that it's winter, and the temperature often dips below zero at nighttime, this puts the local population in immediate danger of freezing to death. And this is becoming a real humanitarian catastrophe.

A physical blockade of Nagorno Karabakh is tantamount to sentencing its people to a slow death," Mkhitaryan wrote.

US Senate Foreign Committee commented on the situation in Lachin Corridor

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a statement regarding the closure of Berdzor (Lachin) corridor by Azerbaijani “eco-activists” and cutting the gas supply by Azerbainan. “Aliyev's weaponization of winter against the people of Nagorno Karabakh is straight out of the authoritarian playbook. Democracies worldwide must swiftly condemn the coercive gas cuts and blockade by Aliyev and his proxies. Freedom of movement in Nagorno Karabakh must be restored”, the Committee Tweeted.

The ECHR gave Azerbaijan until December 19 to send a response to the request submitted by Armenia

A little while ago, the European Court made a decision regarding the request to apply interim measures submitted by Armenia yesterday. The Court decided to give Azerbaijan time until Monday, December 19, at 4:00 p.m. (French time) to send a response to Armenia's request, after which the Court will make a final decision.

It should be reminded that the office of the representative of the Republic of Armenia on international legal issues appealed to the European Court of Human Rights yesterday, demanding the application of interim measures against Azerbaijan and obliging to unblock the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor.

Other News

• Dutch Foreign Ministry calls on Baku to unblock the Lachin Corridor.

• US House representative Katie Porter referred to the latest developments in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and the closure of the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor by Azerbaijani “eco-activists” and cutting the gas supply by Azerbainan.