Azerbaijan responded to statements by representatives of the US, the EU and France regarding the situation in the Lachin corridor
14 December 2022
"The allegations that the Shusha-Lachyn road is allegedly closed by Azerbaijan and this could lead to a humanitarian crisis are groundless," Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Ayhan Hajizade said today. Commenting on the statements of representatives of the US State Department, the EU and the French Foreign Ministry regarding the cessation of traffic along the Lachin corridor, he said:
"Unlike Armenia, which constantly hinders the opening of all transport and communication routes in the region, the Azerbaijani side, in accordance with its obligations, has reconstructed the Lachyn road over the past two years and created sufficient conditions for its use for humanitarian purposes," he said.
At the same time, Hajizade stressed that these states have only contemplated illegal economic activities, the plundering of natural resources in the occupied part of Karabakh, and have not noticed environmental damage over the past 30 years. They did not pay attention to how the Lachin road was used for military provocations and illegal economic activities, contrary to paragraph 6 of the Trilateral Statement of November 10, 2020. This indicates their biased approach, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
"The protest action held by representatives of non-governmental organizations and environmental activists on the Shusha-Lachin road in recent days is the result of legitimate discontent of the Azerbaijani public with the mentioned illegal actions, and this position of civil society should be respected. The purpose of this protest is not to block any roads - civilian transport can move freely in both directions," Hajizade further said.
As for the humanitarian situation in the region, Hajizade noted, "the Azerbaijani side is ready to meet the humanitarian needs of Armenians living in our territories."
"Unlike Armenia, which constantly hinders the opening of all transport and communication routes in the region, the Azerbaijani side, in accordance with its obligations, has reconstructed the Lachyn road over the past two years and created sufficient conditions for its use for humanitarian purposes," he said.
At the same time, Hajizade stressed that these states have only contemplated illegal economic activities, the plundering of natural resources in the occupied part of Karabakh, and have not noticed environmental damage over the past 30 years. They did not pay attention to how the Lachin road was used for military provocations and illegal economic activities, contrary to paragraph 6 of the Trilateral Statement of November 10, 2020. This indicates their biased approach, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
"The protest action held by representatives of non-governmental organizations and environmental activists on the Shusha-Lachin road in recent days is the result of legitimate discontent of the Azerbaijani public with the mentioned illegal actions, and this position of civil society should be respected. The purpose of this protest is not to block any roads - civilian transport can move freely in both directions," Hajizade further said.
As for the humanitarian situation in the region, Hajizade noted, "the Azerbaijani side is ready to meet the humanitarian needs of Armenians living in our territories."
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