13:14,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers in the Netherlands called on Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra to take action for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and restoration of unimpeded access to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) reported.
FAON said that Dutch MP Pieter Outsight and 12 other MPs of parliamentary factions – Brekelmans (VVD), Mulder (CDA), De Roon (PVV), Van Dijk (SP), Van der Staaij (SGP), Ceder (CU), Piri (PvdA), Van der Lee (GroenLinks), Koekkoek (Volt), Teunissen (PvdD), Eppink (Ja21) and Van der Plas (BBB) have consolidated their voices to address questions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands urging to take action for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.
“The questions call for an unambiguous stance in regards to the application of the ICJ order, according to which Azerbaijan must take all necessary measures to halt the blockade and ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor, in both directions, and asks what steps the Netherlands is planning to take in order to have the Azerbaijani authorities implement the ruling. The MPs ask if the Minister has taken note of the fact that the ambassador of Azerbaijan in the Netherlands made provocative tweets about “ongoing NGO’s peaceful action”, which underscores once again the absolute ignorance of the Azerbaijani officials to the ruling of the ICJ. Among other questions the MPs also inquire, in case the Minister shares the opinion that Azerbaijan does not meet the ruling of the Court, if he intends to address the ambassador of Azerbaijan about it. The MP’s also want to know what steps the Netherlands will take towards EU, Council of Europe and UN for the immediate implementation of the ruling. The MPs also ask about Azerbaijan’s obligation, being a member of organisations as UN and Council of Europe, to stop the ongoing violations of human rights and international law, and also this ruling of the International Court of Justice. The FAON also took note and welcomes the statement by the Dutch MFA calling upon Azerbaijan to abide by the legally binding decision of the ICJ. FAON has been active for the opening of Lachin corridor towards Dutch public, media and politics since December 12th, resulting in several debates and 2 motions (December 14 and January 19) and held a 3-day Silent Protest demonstration in front of the parliament on January 17,18,19, submitting a petition on January 17 to the parliament and a rally at the Peace Palace on January 30 in The Hague,” reads the FAON press release.
The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.
The Lachin Corridor is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.