ArmInfo. The suffering of the 120,000 inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh deserves the greater attention, but above all, they deserve that their fundamental rights are respected. Swedish MP Boriana Aberg stated during the debate on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade of the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor in Artsakh held yesterday in the PACE.
According to her, this is not a question of territorial integrity. This is not a question about Armenia or about Azerbaijan. It is aquestion of human rights . "People in Nagorno-Karabakh freeze and starve in the dark."
According to her, US Secretary of State Blinken recently spoke with Azerbaijani President Aliyev calling for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor. Prior to this, the European Parliament approved a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to release Armenian prisoners of war, withdraw its troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia and open a corridor. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Commissioner for Human Rights and the rapporteurs of Azerbaijan and Armenia also made statements about the blockade. The European Court of Human Rights indicated to Azerbaijan provisional measures on this issue.
The parliamentarian noted with regret that Azerbaijan decided to ignore these calls. "Therefore, I want to ask what actions need to be taken so that Azerbaijan fulfills its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe?" Boriana Aberg said.
Meanwhile, the French MP Bertrand Bouyx stressed in his speech that the Council of Europe, established on the basis of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, should be able to participate in these monitoring missions of the European Union. "Moreover, I believe that it is absolutely necessary for us to see for ourselves the state of affairs on the ground. In any case, the obstacles placed in the way of movement along the corridor have serious humanitarian consequences for the local population. <I do not need to describe here the consequences of a lack of food, medicine, or fuel. The corridor should not be used to stimulate the expulsion of the Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh due to the fact that life in this enclave has become impossible", the French MP stressed, noting that France, as a member of the Minsk Group, remains fully committed to supporting the negotiations, following the meetings in Brussels, Prague and Washington.
PACE MP from Great Britain Jill Mortimer expressed her concern over the deteriorating situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. She called on the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia to join the OSCE efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region. "Regardless of motives, the protesters blocking the Lachin Corridor only exacerbate the growing crisis. I call on all parties to the November 9, 2020 tripartite statement to reaffirm that the Republic of Azerbaijan must guarantee the safe movement of people, vehicles and goods in both directions along the Lachin Corridor", Mortimer said.
Representative of Greece George Katrougalos noted that despite Azerbaijan's claims, there is no doubt that this country is encircling Nagorno Karabakh. "The possibility that some Red Cross vehicles are transporting some patients in a life-threatening situation does not mean that the corridor is open. The proof of this is that all parties that have the opportunity to have a direct, let's say, understanding of the situation, like the United States or France, have already condemned this blockade", Katrougalos said. Cypriot representative Constantinos Efstathiou stressed that a worrying situation has developed in Nagorno-Karabakh that threatens to undermine the fragile peace process and could well lead to renewed violence. "This could have catastrophic consequences, affecting not only the peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also the wider region of the South Caucasus and beyond," he said. The MP stressed that " it is a crucial moment of genocide, let's not sacrifice people due to political conditions or national interests. Every person in this world deserves to live in dignity and with full respect for their rights. The message should be clear: stop the blockade of Lachin Corridor," the Cypriot delegate concluded."