Foreign Affairs Committee of Flemish Parliament of Belgium adopts  resolution on Artsakh 

ArmInfo.The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Flemish Parliament of Belgium adopted a resolution,  calling for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor which has been blocked by Azerbaijan and for the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia, ancnews.info reports. 

The Lachin Corridor, a vital lifeline connecting  Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh with the Republic of Armenia, has been  subject to a blockade by Azerbaijan. This blockade has caused a  humanitarian crisis for the native Armenian population of  Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh and hindered their access to essential  supplies, humanitarian aid, and economic opportunities. The Flemish  Parliament recognizes the urgency of this issue and urges Azerbaijan  to immediately lift the blockade, ensuring the free flow of goods,  services, and individuals through the corridor.

Furthermore, the resolution highlights the need for the immediate  withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from the sovereign territory of  Armenia. It emphasizes that the presence of foreign military forces  within a sovereign nation's borders is a violation of international  law and undermines the principles of sovereignty.  The resolution  urges the EU to call on Azerbaijan to end its hostile policy against  the Armenian people and ensure the rights and security of the  Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh which is facing a threat of  genocide.

The initiator of the resolution, member of the Flemish Parliament  Allessia Claes from the party N-VA commented:

"I am very pleased that the Committee on Foreign Policy of the  Flemish Parliament approved our resolution on the Armenia-Azerbaijan  conflict, including the closure of the Lachin corridor and the  humanitarian situation. We stand united in condemning the ongoing war  and calling on all parties to move ahead in fruitful discussions  towards a lasting peace."

Karl Vanlouwe, a member of the Parliament from the NVA and co-signer  of the resolution stated: 

"This resolution is the result of many conversations with the  Armenian community and a hearing with Flemish journalist Jens De Ryck  that we hosted last week in the committee in the Flemish Parliament.  He gave an exposition of the devastating conflict in the Caucasus.  The current blockade of the Lachin corridor is a true humanitarian  crisis. It must stop now."

Elaborating on the resolution the EAFJD president Kaspar Karampetian  said:

"We highly appreciate the work of the Flemish MPs in particular those  Members who have been playing a leading role and tirelessly speaking  up against the Azerbaijani aggression as well as its policy of ethnic  cleansing in Artsakh /Nagorno Karabakh." Karampetian concluded  emphasizing, "The right to self- determination of the native Armenian  people of Artsakh equals to their right to life which must be  defended relentlessly."