Armenia notifies NATO countries about Azerbaijan's provocations

YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. The Chairman of Armenia's Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs Andranik Kocharyan has sent a letter to his colleagues in NATO member states, asking them to condemn the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan.

The Lachin corridor is the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. It has been blocked by a large group of Azerbaijanis described by official Baku as 'environmental activists'

As a result, about 1,100 people, including 270 children, are cut off from their homes. On the evening of December 13, Azerbaijan cut off the gas supply to Artsakh.

“Closure of the Lachin crridor has severe humanitarian implications and sets back the peace process,” said Ned Price, the U.S. State Department spokesman.

“We call on the government of Azerbaijan to restore free movement through the corridor. The way forward is through negotiations,” added Price.

“The European Union has been following with serious concern the various developments around the Lachin corridor since the beginning of December,” Peter Stano, the EU foreign policy spokesman, said in a statement.

“The EU calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure freedom and security of movement along the corridor, in line with the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020,” he said.

“Restrictions to such freedom of movement cause significant distress to the local population and create humanitarian concerns,” he added. -0-