RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan discussed the situation with foreign counterparts

On December 23, RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with France's co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Brice Roquefeuil.

The interlocutors touched on issues related to the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, and the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

Presenting the situation created as a result of blocking the Lachin Corridor, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that Azerbaijan's actions are aimed at creating a large-scale humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and subjecting Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.

Minister Mirzoyan emphasized that the international community should take active steps to force Azerbaijan to fully respect the 2020 provisions of the tripartite declaration of November 9 and unconditionally unblock the Lachine Corridor, removing all obstacles to safe and unhindered transport traffic. He emphasized the fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin Corridor in order to assess the humanitarian situation, as well as the provision of unhindered humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh for relevant UN bodies.

Mirzoyan also had a telephone conversation with Toivo Klaar, the EU's special representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.

During the telephone conversation, regional security and stability issues were touched upon.

RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan presented the situation created by Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, including the humanitarian consequences for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mirzoyan also talked to the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Senior Advisor on Caucasian Negotiations Phillip Reeker.

During the telephone conversation, the security situation in the South Caucasus region, the process of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, and the latest developments regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue were discussed.

RA Foreign Minister presented to the interlocutor the situation created by Azerbaijan's blocking of the Lachin Corridor since December 12, emphasizing that Azerbaijan's actions are aimed at creating a humanitarian disaster in Nagorno-Karabakh and subjecting the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.

Ararat Mirzoyan also emphasized that Azerbaijan violates the 2020 obligations under the tripartite declaration of November 9 and grossly violates international humanitarian law, emphasizing the international community's response in the context of restoring unhindered traffic through the Lachine Corridor.

The reality is that on December 3, the Azerbaijani side submitted written proposals to the Artsakh authorities, which were unacceptable to Artsakh -Artsakh President

Artsakh President Arayk Harutyunyan made a statement, stating that on December 3, after blocking the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia for the first time, the Azerbaijani side, through Russian peacekeepers, forwarded written proposals to Artsakh authorities, which had nothing to do with environmental issues and were absolutely unacceptable for Artsakh.

The President of the European Council spoke in favor of suspending Russia's membership in the UN Security Council

Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, is of the opinion that it is necessary to develop a mechanism to "suspend" Russia's membership in the UN Security Council. At the same time, he admitted that it is not possible at the moment. 

In an interview with the RTVi TV channel, Michel accused Russia of violating international law, noting that when a permanent member of the UN Security Council does it, "there is a flaw in international law."

"In my opinion, a membership suspension mechanism should be created. I am not talking about removing Russia completely, but at least about suspending Russia's membership in the Security Council," he stated.

At the same time, the head of the European Council admitted that "this is not possible at the moment, it will bring the very concept of UN security to a dead end."

"However, we clearly saw that before this war began, the UN security concept was already very shaky and had many difficulties in solving serious international problems. So, I am one of those people who believe that sooner or later the reform of the work of the UN will be mandatory, for example, in order to better take into account the balance of the modern world order," said the President of the European Council.

In particular, according to him, Africa and Latin America are now badly represented in the structures of the United Nations.

"I think that there will be a discussion about the deep reform of the UN system," he concluded.

RA FM Lavrov stated that RA did not use any diplomatic channel to inform that it will not participate in the meeting of foreign ministers

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Armenia did not use any diplomatic channel to inform Russia that it refuses to participate in the tripartite meeting with Russian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Jeyhun Bayramov in Moscow. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, "the method of informing the Armenian side raises questions."

Lavrov announced this during the press conference following the negotiations with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bairamov.

"Like you, we learned about the refusal [to participate in the meeting] from the press report. No diplomatic channel, which is usually included in such cases, was used. This is the decision of the Armenian side," he said, adding that "informing everyone like that raises questions."

It should be reminded the meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan was supposed to take place in Moscow today, but the Armenian side asked to postpone it.

Bayramov announced that "Ruben Vardanyan should leave Nagorno Karabakh immediately"

Azerbaijan demands that Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan leave Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced this at the press conference held as a result of negotiations with Sergey Lavrov.

"His (Vardanyan-ed.) activity is criminal and adventurous in nature. We think it needs to stop. And the sooner this person leaves this region, the better it will be for everyone. First of all, the local population suffers from it. Before his arrival, there were positive relations, and his factor is very harmful and destabilizing.

Bayramov noted that Ruben Vardanyan is a "foreign element" for the region.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in turn, noted that Russia has nothing to do with Ruben Vardanyan's decision to settle in Nagorno-Karabakh and engage in political activities there.

"Mr. Vardanyan has nothing to do with Russia, the Russian authorities have nothing to do with him. At his request, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree the other day, and he is no longer a citizen of the Russian Federation. We did not have, do not have, and are not going to have anything to do with his going to Karabakh and engaging in political activities there," Lavrov said.

Other News

• A group of citizens of the Republic of Artsakh, men, and women, walked a short distance from the Artsakh side to the checkpoint of the Russian peacekeeping troops to negotiate with them on the issue of opening the only road connecting Armenia.

• On December 23, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan received the Artsakh delegation led by Acting Foreign Minister Davit Babayan.

• On December 20-21, the working discussion of the heads of RA diplomatic missions took place in Jermuk under the leadership of the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs and the leadership of the central apparatus of the MFA.

• The executive and legislative authorities of Armenia are carrying out large-scale work together with all partners so that the opening of the Lachin Corridor takes place as soon as possible, Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan announced today in the National Assembly.