European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP
Andrey Kovatchev thinks that the EU and the U.S. should pressure Azerbaijan
into lifting the blockade of the Lachin corridor and ensuring the free movement
through the corridor in both directions.
In his interview with Armenpress’s correspondent in
Brussels, the MEP said that Azerbaijan’s policy is not conducive to the
atmosphere of trust and to the peace agreement either. Kovatchev condemns
Azerbaijan for going back on the tripartite agreement of 2020. According to him,
instead of returning all Armenian POWs, Azerbaijan keeps arresting people. The
standing rapporteur on Armenia noted that two of the three fundamental
principles established by the OSCE Minsk Group are being breached; there is a
use of force and the right to self-determination is not respected at all.
“I am deeply saddened by the deterioration of the
humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and am calling for international
pressure and support once again. We should continue to pressure Azerbaijan into
unblocking the Lachin corridor, which is the only direct link between Armenia
and Artsakh. We should also continue to support the Armenian population of
Nagorno-Karabakh. The current situation is a clear violation of the tripartite
statement of 2020, under which that corridor should have operated in both
directions and it should be ensured by the Russian military presence there.
However, they fail in their duties. This shows once again that Russia is not a
reliable partner, and other international partners, namely the EU, especially
France and the U.S. should redouble their efforts to find a solution acceptable
to the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said.
