Following the latest incidents in the Nagorno-Karabakh region disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, under the eyes of observers dispatched by the European Union, the UN Security Council held a special meeting to examine the situation, which has been deteriorating sharply for several months as a result of the blockade by Azeri forces of the Lachin corridor linking the region to Armenia.
The emergency meeting was held following Armenia’s request on Saturday, August 12th, in response to the “deteriorating humanitarian situation” in Nagorno-Karabakh, where the blockade has deprived the region of its only land link with the rest of Armenian territory.
“The Armenian government requests the intervention of the United Nations Security Council as the main body for safeguarding global security,” wrote Armenia’s permanent representative to the international organisation, Mher Margaryan, in a letter to the Security Council.
As a result of the blockade, the region is suffering from a serious shortage of food, medicines, and fuel, accompanied by frequent disruptions to gas and electricity supplies. This situation, which has now been in place for several months, is leading to an increase in mortality among the local population, particularly among people suffering from diabetes or cardiovascular disease who are unable to receive appropriate treatment. Mher Margaryan used the expression “an act of mass atrocity” to describe Azeri policy towards the Armenian population of the region.
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York was held on Wednesday, August 16th, for two hours to examine the situation caused by the blockade of the Lachin corridor. According to Armenews, most Council members agreed on the need to reopen the corridor to help the Armenian population, but it is not known whether the Council will adopt a resolution or a declaration on this subject.
Most Council members denounced the humanitarian blackmail by the Azeri government. They stressed the absolute necessity of opening the corridor, while others proposed opening new alternative routes. The American ambassador who chaired the meeting called for “a compromise on additional routes for humanitarian supplies.” The Russian ambassador recalled that he had already put forward such proposals in July at a meeting with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia. “We are talking about simultaneously opening the Agdam and Lachin corridors for the transport of civilians and non-military goods,” he said. The British ambassador played it safe, asking “all parties” to allow the Red Cross to circulate. For their part, the representatives of Albania and Turkey adopted part of the Azeri argument in support of Baku’s positions.
The European Union ambassador, who attended the meeting, testified to the numerous ceasefire violations along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan observed by the European monitoring mission in recent months.
The Azeri government, meanwhile, denied all the accusations. “The allegations of famine and genocide are false and fictitious,” declared Yashar Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s permanent representative to the UN, displaying obviously doctored or unsourced photos to support his argument that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh is living normally.
According to the Armenian authorities, the final text of the meeting should be released soon.
