17:01,

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Artur Tovmasyan has welcomed the adoption of the ‘Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor’ resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

“We welcome the adoption of the resolution by PACE calling on Azerbaijan to unblock the Lachin Corridor, immediately fulfill the ECHR and ICJ rulings, restore power and gas supply into Nagorno Karabakh, ensure the movement of persons and vehicles along the Lachin Corridor in both directions,” Speaker Tovmasyan said.

He highlighted the fact that Azerbaijan is being called out to abandon its belligerent and threatening rhetoric against Armenians and resolve the issue of rights and security of Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh through dialogue with Stepanakert, and neutral international involvement.

“Any mechanism aimed at peace is acceptable for us, we welcome international monitoring and fact-finding missions that would shed light on the existing situation and suppress Azerbaijan’s aggressive policy.”

The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. 

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since.

Lachin Corridor is the only road linking Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world.