ArmInfo.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands summoned the Azerbaijani ambassador to the country to remind him of the need to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice and unblock the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor. This was reported by the Federation of Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands (FAON).
Thus according to the source, the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) has taken note of the answers by Dutch Foreign Minister Wobke Hoekstra to the written questions of 13 parliamentary factions about the ICJ ruling of 22 February 2022 on blockade of Lachin Corridor (Armenia v. Azerbaijan). Minister Hoekstra agrees with the MP's, that there is non-compliance by Azerbaijan with the Judgement of the ICJ on the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. According to the Court ruling, Azerbaijan must take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions, which it keeps blockaded for more than 100 days. In his letter to the Parliament, the Minister underlines that the International Court rulings are legally binding. Therefore, the Netherlands publicly called on the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with the ruling.
According to the Minister, the Netherlands has repeatedly raised its concerns about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, at several occasions including in bilateral talks with the Azerbaijani authorities, iso as in the recent meeting between the Dutch Prime Minister Rutte and Azerbaijani President Aliyev. The Minister Hoekstra has conveyed these concerns in several conversations with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister. The Netherlands has also expressed these concerns in various multilateral forums, such as the EU Foreign Affairs Council and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Netherlands, together with the other EU member states, has also conveyed this position by means of EU statements to, for example, the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Stability in Europe (OSCE). The Minister also states that the restrictive interpretation of the Court ruling by Azerbaijan is not shared by the Dutch Government. The Minister Hoekstra underlined that the Court ruling must be complied with in their entirety, which means that Azerbaijan must ensure the free movement of people, vehicles and cargo through the Lachin Corridor in both directions.
It should be recalled that on February 22, the International Court of Justice ruled in a lawsuit filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan that Azerbaijan is obliged, in accordance with its obligations under the Convention, to take all measures in its power to ensure the unhindered movement of people, vehicles and cargo along the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor in both directions. "The judge noted that the court notices that since December 12, 2022, the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia through the Lachin Corridor has been disrupted. The Court notes that a number of consequences have arisen as a result of this situation, and that those who bear the consequences continue to suffer these effects to this day. According to the information, the import of vital goods to Nagorno-Karabakh was also hindered, as a result of which there is a shortage of food, medicine and other life-saving supplies. The Court considers that the damage can be considered irreparable when the relevant persons find themselves in life- and health- threatening circumstances. As for the disruption of gas supplies, Armenia did not provide sufficient evidence related to the problem of gas supply that Azerbaijan creates obstacles," the Court's decision noted.
At the same time, the Court by a unanimous vote completely rejected Azerbaijan's request for provisional measures concerning fake allegations of landmine laying by Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories.