During Thursday’s session of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassador Armen Papikyan, the head of the Armenian mission to the OSCE, thoroughly reflected on the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) caused by Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin corridor since December 12, 2022.
The ambassador stressed that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been under a de facto blockade for two months, and food and medicine supplies are almost completely stopped.
It was emphasized that Azerbaijan’s deliberate periodic disconnections of natural gas supply in the conditions of the cold winter, the intentional disruption of electricity supply in the entire territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the creation of unbearable conditions for survival have one goal: to force the Armenian population of Artsakh to leave their homes and deprive them of the right to live in their homeland.
In his address, the permanent representative of Armenia to the OSCE stated that Azerbaijan's claims that free movement is ensured through the Lachin corridor do not correspond to reality.
Calling on the OSCE member states to increase the pressure on Azerbaijan, Ambassador Papikyan lauded the clear statements and positions of a number of OSCE participating countries so far, which call on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally lift the blockade and guarantee free and unhindered movement through the Lachin corridor, which, however, is insufficient.
Ambassador Papikyan stressed that it is imperative to send an international fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin corridor in order to assess the humanitarian situation on the ground and to prevent new aggression by Azerbaijan.
Armen Papikyan added that, violating the norms of international humanitarian law and the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian prisoners of war and civilians as hostages, and the fate of many forcibly missing Armenians remains unknown.
The destruction of the Armenian historical, cultural, and religious heritage of Artsakh continues in the territories that passed under Azerbaijani control.
The fact-finding mission of UNESCO to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories is still rejected by Azerbaijan.
