Top Azerbaijani diplomat, US official discuss situation in Lachin corridor

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on Tuesday discussed the latest developments concerning protests on the Lachin road connecting Armenia to the Karabakh region with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried, during a phone call, an official statement said on Wednesday.

"During the meeting, the parties discussed the cooperation agenda between the two countries and the current situation in the region. (Foreign) Minister Jeyhun Bayramov pointed out that despite a number of constructive initiatives of the Azerbaijani side regarding the normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations in the post-conflict period, the process was continuously obstructed by various provocations by Armenia," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

The statement read that Armenia grossly violated its obligations under the cease-fire agreement signed between Moscow, Baku and Yerevan on Nov. 10, 2020 by "using the Lachin road for military provocations, including the illegal transportation and placement of mines, illegal economic activity and looting of natural resources, and the illegal crossing of third-country nationals."

It further noted that Bayramov refuted claims about a "blockade" implemented on Armenians living in Karabakh and the creation of a "humanitarian disaster" in the region as a result of the "closing" of the Lachin road by Azerbaijan based on the "large number of International Committee of the Red Cross, Russian peacekeeping contingent and other humanitarian vehicles" crossing the road on a daily basis.

"Despite the statements of the Azerbaijani side that there are no obstacles to the free movement of Armenian residents using the road, and that they intend to provide assistance to Armenians if necessary, the fact that people who present themselves as the leaders of local Armenians are against the use of the road by the population has been brought to attention," the statement added.

Since Dec. 12, Azerbaijani ecologists representing nongovernmental organizations have been protesting Armenia's illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Karabakh region, where Russian peacekeepers have been stationed since the aftermath of the fall 2020 conflict in the region and a January 2021 pact with Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

In the fall of 2020, in 44 days of clashes, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages and settlements from Armenian occupation. The Russian-brokered peace agreement is celebrated as a triumph in Azerbaijan.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​