Blockade of Lachin corridor is illegal and must be stopped, says chair of the Security and Defense Subcommittee of European Parliament
YEREVAN, June 21. /ARKA/. The blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan is illegal and must be stopped, the chair of the Security and Defense Subcommittee of the European Parliament Nathalie Loiseau announced during a visit to Armenia’s southern province of Syunik on Wednesday, reaffirming the European Parliament's position on the issue.
"Since Armenia is fully committed to peace, Azerbaijan is obliged to present evidence that it too is committed to it," she said.
Loiseau noted that the EU is making efforts to facilitate contacts between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "We are making efforts to reduce tensions. The presence of the EU observation mission on the Armenian side of the border with Azerbaijan also contributes to it," she said.
"The rights and well-being of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh must be protected, Armenia's sovereignty and integrity must be respected," she stressed.
Loiseau said she will travel with this message to Brussels, where she will report what she learned during her visit to Armenia.
She appealed to European ambassadors accredited in Baku to reject invitations to go to the checkpoint illegally installed by Azerbaijan in the Lachin corridor.
She said also she had no evidence confirming Azerbaijan's accusations that it is Armenia that initiates military actions.
"My personal understanding is that the recorded military incidents are only from one side. There is no evidence to support the accusations voiced by Azerbaijan that military actions are initiated by Armenia. And it's not surprising, because Armenia wants peace," she said.
"On the way to Goris and the Lachin corridor, we met many Russian peacekeepers. According to the November 2020 ceasefire statement, their role includes protecting the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring the free movement of people and goods through the Lachin corridor. We didn't see any of that at the entrance to the Lachin corridor. I can only express my bewilderment: why aren't they carrying out their mission?" she said.
Nathalie Loiseau noted that Russia could also initiate sanctions against Baku, but this is not happening.
"We are surprised by the volumes of natural gas exported by Azerbaijan to Europe, because these volumes exceed the volumes of its production in Azerbaijan. Is Russia on the Azerbaijani side? It is time for Russia to announce it publicly," she said. -0-
