13:18, 7 September 2023
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan has called on the UN and world leaders to display political will and prevent the genocide of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh perpetrated by Azerbaijan.
In an interview with the French Ouest-France newspaper, Ghazaryan said the total blockade by Azerbaijan has led to a humanitarian disaster in Nagorno-Karabakh.
He said that farmers are unable to carry out harvest because they don’t have any fuel due to the blockade. Moreover, the Azerbaijani military is targeting on a daily basis the farmers to “obstruct any kind of economic activity in Artsakh and further deepen the famine.”
“Our reserves are depleted. We have reserves of bread and flour left only for a few more days. The cause of every third death in Artsakh is now starvation and malnutrition. Imagine what could happen if this blockade doesn't end. Urgent measures are required, or else it will be too late,” Ghazaryan warned.
He said that Azerbaijan is deliberately subjecting Artsakh to starvation.
“Leading international experts are describing the situation as genocide. Azerbaijan is using starvation as a method to destroy Armenians,” the Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Minister said.
Asked how the genocide could be prevented, Ghazaryan said that world leaders and the UN should display political will and act.
“World leaders and the United Nations must display political will. The international community has an obligation and the capacity to prevent genocides. The relevant international organizations are properly informed on the ongoing situation in Artsakh. They must issue an objective assessment to that. The UN Security Council can adopt a relevant resolution and call on Azerbaijan to end the blockade. International organizations must impose sanctions against those responsible for the blockade and send humanitarian aid by all possible ways, including airlift. We are calling on the free and civilized world to protect human rights the rights of nations. Let’s not waste time, because, after all, this is about genocide prevention,” FM Ghazaryan said.