Azerbaijan's unilateral decision to create this particular checkpoint (i.e. in the Lachin corridor) trully contradicts the efforts made to build trust between the parties. This was stated Tuesday by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, during the European Parliament debates on the situation created by Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to Borrell, the current situation is especially difficult for the Karabakh Armenians, who have "remained in that particular enclave."

At the same time, the EU foreign policy chief noted that the Lachin corridor is outside the geographical responsibility of the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia.

Also, Borrell responded to Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Francois-Xavier Bellamy (France), who had stated that the EU was not doing anything to resolve the situation.

In this regard, the EU foreign policy chief recalled the recent meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moldova, with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Also, Borrell recalled that another such meeting was expected in July.

"We are doing everything possible," he emphasized, adding that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have confirmed that they are ready to continue the talks and recognize the territorial integrity of one another’s country.

Continuing to answer the MEPs' questions, Josep Borrell stressed that the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia simply cannot put an end to the existence of the Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Lachin corridor because it is not an armed mission, and "the only solution is the diplomatic one."

According to the EU foreign policy chief, thanks to the diplomatic efforts of the bloc, it was possible to avoid the resumption of the conflict between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides and "at least now there are no casualties."