Belgian Foreign Minister: to ensure security of population of  Nagorno-Karabakh and free movement along Kashatagh corridor is  Azerbaijan`s obligation

ArmInfo.Belgium is deeply concerned about the aggravation of the situation in the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib stated on August 22 at a joint press conference with her Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, adding that she had arrived in Yerevan  to express support for the Armenian side in this difficult situation.

"I say clearly: the only way to resolve this historic conflict is  through negotiations and compromises, and this is a difficult task to  achieve. In 2023, within the framework of the meetings organized by  President of the European Council Charles Michel, there was progress  on the agreements reached - the heads of the two states have  reciprocally recorded each other's sovereignty and territorial  integrity. And I welcome the Armenian Prime Minister's courageous  statements pertaining to the path of peace. The agreements reached  must be respected on the ground. The rights of the Armenian  population must also be guaranteed," she said, noting that she would  remind her Azerbaijani counterpart of this during her forthcoming  visit to Baku.

At the same time, Lahbib  expressed her conviction that the peace  treaty between Yerevan and Baku is tangible, and it is the duty of  each head of state to make it possible for the peoples of Armenia and  Azerbaijan to live in peace.

"New consultations should be held in Brussels, as well as in Yerevan  and Baku, and we hope that they will be historic. And to achieve this  goal, you can rely on the European Union," the Belgian Foreign  Minister said.

She also welcomed Armenia's decision to host a EU civilian mission on  its territory, the purpose of which is to ensure stability and  security in the border area.

The diplomat once again stressed Belgium's concern over the worsening  humanitarian situation in the region due to the blockade of the  Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor. According to her, during today's meeting  with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross,  she once again convinced of the difficult situation in which the  population of Nagorno Karabakh is. "To ensure the security of the  population of Nagorno-Karabakh and free movement along the Kashatagh  corridor is Azerbaijan's obligation.  Belgium, as well as the EU,  will continue to be guided by this approach in diplomatic contacts,"  she concluded.

As Mirzoyan said in turn, the meeting discussed the worsening  humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, caused by the illegal blockade of the  Kashatagh corridor by Azerbaijan.

According to him, he touched in detail on the irreversible grave  consequences of the crisis around Artsakh.  "We also touched upon the  urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, which was held on August  16, and the targeted messages of international partners, including  from Belgium, made after the blockade of the Kashatagh corridor by  Azerbaijan in December 2022, and to which we attach utmost  importance," the Armenian Foreign Minister noted. 

In this vein, Mirzoyan drew attention to the fact that despite these  calls and the decisions of the International Court of Justice on  February 22 and July 6 of this year, Azerbaijan keeps the Kashatagh  corridor closed. He emphasized that the actions of Azerbaijan pursue  the goal of ethnic cleansing of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, which  was repeatedly warned by Armenia.

"I also stressed that in recent days Azerbaijan has been periodically  violating the ceasefire in Artsakh, as well as shelling the positions  of the Armenian Armed Forces on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state  border.  This was also reported by the EU observation mission in  Armenia. We have also repeatedly emphasized that Azerbaijan  constantly violates all provisions of the tripartite statement of  November 9, 2020, including the point regarding the return of all  Armenian prisoners of war and civilians. And today, in fact,  Azerbaijan is holding hostage the 120,000th population of Artsakh,"  the Armenian minister stated.

The Armenian Foreign Minister expressed his conviction that by these  actions, Azerbaijan is challenging the efforts of the international  community and the Republic of Armenia to establish long-term peace  and security in the region. "And we expect our international partners  to show political will and take practical actions to change the  militaristic, inhumane and destructive behavior of Azerbaijan. I  would like to reaffirm Armenia's position on achieving peace in the  region through peaceful negotiations," the RA Foreign Minister  concluded.