UNO: Amid a mounting humanitarian crisis, the United Nations Security Council is slated to convene an emergency session on Wednesday, focusing on the dire conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh, ensnared in a debilitating blockade imposed by Azerbaijan.
Armenia has cast a stark accusation against Azerbaijan, alleging that since December, the solitary road linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia has been obstructed, significantly impeding the flow of vital necessities, including food and medical supplies, to the approximately 120,000 residents of the region.
Ambassador Mher Margaryan, Armenia's representative to the UN, articulated the grievousness of the situation in a missive to the Security Council. He asserted that the blockade has catalyzed a "full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe," teetering perilously on the precipice of an imminent disaster.
Margaryan's letter further implored the Security Council to demand an immediate lifting of the blockade by Azerbaijan, advocating for unhindered access to deliver vital humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh.
In its defense, Azerbaijan contends that the blockade is a necessary measure to curb the transport of weaponry and natural resources to the region. However, this stance has drawn widespread condemnation from international bodies, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
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Notably, the OSCE has explicitly called upon Azerbaijan to rescind the blockade and facilitate the unfettered transport of humanitarian assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Anticipated to be an incendiary affair, the Security Council meeting is poised to witness a fiery exchange of accusations between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the contentious blockade. The session's outcome remains uncertain, particularly regarding the possibility of a unanimous resolution compelling Azerbaijan to dismantle the blockade.
Nonetheless, the convocation of this meeting underscores the global apprehension over the escalating humanitarian emergency in Nagorno-Karabakh and exerts substantial pressure on Azerbaijan to relent on its blockade.
Beyond exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, the blockade casts an ominous shadow over the peace process in Nagorno-Karabakh. The obstruction complicates the negotiation landscape for both parties, obstructing the pathway towards a sustainable and lasting peace agreement.
As Wednesday's Security Council meeting unfolds, the international community seizes an opportune moment to convey an unequivocal message to Azerbaijan: the blockade must be lifted. Should the Council rally around a resolution to enforce this demand, it would signify a momentous stride towards invigorating the prospects of peace in the embattled region.
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