Charles Michel: The opening of the Agdam-Askeran route is an important step that should facilitate the reopening of the Lachin corridor

President of the European Council Charles Michel’s Cabinet
referred to the need for the unblocking of the Lachin corridor and the direct
dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert. 

“In line with elements and proposals outlined publicly in
our statement on September 1st, 2023, President Michel continued to be closely
engaged in advancing those and other approaches, with a primary focus on
de-escalation of tensions and the humanitarian situation facing the Karabakh
Armenians,” reads the statement.

Michel had telephone conversations with Armenian Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. He also talked to Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

As noted in the statement, the situation in Artsakh is
deteriorating quickly, and it is vital to ensure essential products are
supplied to Karabakh Armenians.

“The opening of the Agdam-Askeran route today is an
important step that should facilitate the reopening also of the Lachin
corridor. We call on all stakeholders to show responsibility and flexibility in
ensuring that both the Lachin and the Agdam-Askeran route will be used. 

This difficult situation on the ground has lasted for too
long; it is now important to find sustainable and mutually acceptable solutions
to ensure humanitarian access, also ahead of the autumn and winter seasons,”
reads the statement.