The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, expressed, on the evening of Wednesday 26 July, the EU’s deep concern about the “serious humanitarian situation” affecting the local population in the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.
“The movement through the Lachin corridor remains obstructed for more than seven months, despite Orders by the International Court of Justice to reopen it. Medical supplies and essential goods are in short supply or have already run out, with dire consequences for the local population”, stressed Mr Borrell in a press release. In his view, it is incumbent on the Azerbaijani authorities to guarantee safety and freedom of movement along the Lachin corridor “imminently” and not to permit the crisis to escalate further.
The High Representative also said that the willingness expressed by the Azerbaijani authorities to also supply goods via the town of Aghdam should not be seen as an alternative to reopening the Lachin corridor.
In addition, Mr Borrell called for the full resumption of the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the region, including medical evacuations and humanitarian supplies. “The EU stresses that humanitarian access must not be politicised by any actors”, he reiterated. The day before, the ICRC had announced that it was no longer able to provide humanitarian aid to the population via the Lachin and Aghdam corridor, and that the last time it had been authorised to bring in medicines and basic foodstuffs was several weeks ago.
Recalling the EU’s commitment to supporting the process of normalisation between Armenia and Azerbaijan and a dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert/Khankendi, Mr Borrell warned that this required a genuine commitment from all parties. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)