12:51,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. France will provide an addition €3,000,000 to support the humanitarian activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Nagorno-Karabakh, the French foreign ministry said in a readout of the call between the Armenian and French foreign ministers.
Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, expressed deep concern about the fact that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been suffering for more than eight months as a result of the blockade of Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.
Colonna noted with regret that Azerbaijan continues its blockade, which contradicts its obligations within the framework of the ceasefire agreement and harms the negotiations process.
Reiterating her call made during her April 27 and 28 trips to Azerbaijan and Armenia, she said that outstanding issues can only be solved through negotiations, which would give the chance to achieve just and lasting peace.
The French Foreign Minister reiterated her call on restoring the free movement of people and goods in both directions along the Lachin Corridor and uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to the population.
FM Colonna said that Azerbaijan must fulfill its international obligations, particularly comply with the ICJ February 22 binding order.
The ministers also discussed the Azerbaijani cross-border shooting that happened on the Armenian border on August 15 during an EU monitoring patrol. The French foreign minister expressed concern about the shooting and expressed full support to the EU mission.
Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – 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. Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.
On July 26, Armenia sent a humanitarian convoy carrying emergency food and medication for Nagorno-Karabakh, but Azerbaijan blocked the trucks at the entrance of Lachin Corridor.