Armenian FM calls on int`l community to take effective steps to end blockade of Berdzor Corridor

ArmInfo. The visit of the French Foreign Minister to Yerevan takes place in difficult times, when we are facing serious challenges and threats to regional security.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated on April 28 at a joint press conference with his French colleague Catherine Colonna in Yerevan.

The Armenian minister expressed gratitude to the French side for the principled position expressed at different levels on existing problems, including the elimination of the consequences of the Azerbaijani aggression against the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia, as well as for advancing the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG).

Mirzoyan noted that he highlighted the role of French President Emmanuel Macron in establishing peace and stability in the South Caucasus.  "Despite the criticism of the international community and the decision of the International Court of Justice of February 22, which is binding, after more than four months of blockade of the Berdzor / Lachin corridor, Azerbaijan on April 23, grossly violating paragraph 6 of the tripartite statement of November 9, has already officially blocked the corridor, taking steps to establish checkpoint in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping corridor.  This is another violation, however, with very dangerous consequences," Mirzoyan said, pointing to the real threat of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to him, this should already be obvious to the international community as well. According to Mirzoyan, in this vein, he called on the UN countries, endowed with an international security mandate, to take effective steps, including the imperative of sending an international mission to the Berdzor corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh, ensuring unimpeded passage of international humanitarian organizations in Artsakh.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that despite the calls of the international community, Azerbaijan continues to violate other provisions of the tripartite declaration of November 9, including continuing to detain Armenian prisoners of war and civilians.

"Despite Armenia's commitment to solve existing problems peacefully through constructive negotiations, Azerbaijan continues to occupy the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia and its aggressive actions that are provocative in nature and which contradict the statements adopted following the meeting in Prague and Sochi," Mirzoyan said, recalling the key role of the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991 in these statements.

Mirzoyan stressed Armenia's commitment to establishing peace and stability in the region. In this vein, he pointed to the continuation of negotiations between Yerevan and Baku on the draft peace treaty.  "In order to establish a comprehensive peace, it is necessary to solve all existing problems without the threat of force or the use of force, ensuring the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of an internationally guaranteed dialogue. We expect France's sincere efforts and involvement in the abovementioned processes," Mirzoyan summed up.