12:10,
YEREVAN, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS. On Tuesday the Los Angeles City Council voted to name the West L.A. intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Granville Avenue "Republic of Artsakh Square," LAist reported.
The intersection was chosen because it's where Azerbaijan's Los Angeles consulate is located, City Council President Paul Krekorian's office told LAist.
“Azerbaijan's dictator has explicitly threatened genocide and called for the expulsion of all Armenians from territories he claims, once again threatening the annihilation of the Armenian people in their ancient homeland,” Krekorian said in an emailed statement to LAist. “We have taken this action to affirm the solidarity of the people of Los Angeles with the people of Artsakh.”
The Lachin Corridor – the only road linking Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world – has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.
The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan on 22 February 2023 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 so far ignored the order. The blockade has caused a humanitarian crisis.
