The Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations, Mher Margaryan, stated in an interview on BBC radio’s Newshour program that the responsibility to prevent mass atrocities in Nagorno-Karabakh and uphold international peace and security lies with the Security Council, urging the implementation of appropriate measures.

“We have been warning the international community that the alarming situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is close to turning into a humanitarian catastrophe for some months now. The closure of this vital lifeline by Azerbaijan has been instigating conditions of a man-made humanitarian catastrophe. Today is exactly eight months that thousands of besieged families in Nagorno-Karabakh have been suffering from critical shortages of essential goods, including food, fuel, and medical supplies,” Margaryan stressed. 

He further added: “The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a provisional measure in February and then one again reaffirmed in July, according to which Azerbaijan shall take all measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin Corridor, which Azerbaijan is not implementing to this day. The Secretary General of the United Nations made three statements: one in December, the other one in February, and the most recent one on August 3, calling for the unconditional implementation of ICJ's ruling and reaffirming the binding nature of it. Many international organizations called upon Azerbaijan to implement the court order. We also appealed to the Security Council a month ago, asking it specifically to undertake urgent and effective measures in response to Azerbaijan's violation of international humanitarian law and to ensure the implementation of legally binding orders of ICJ. Nothing happened so far. Even the International Red Cross is denied access to the territory. Many reputable scholars and experts on genocide have been writing and making statements about the clear genocidal intent of Azerbaijan in relation to the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The international community has an obligation to prevent such crime.”

Pointing to the UN Security Council, he stated: “The Security Council has various actions in their toolbox. The most appropriate action would be to pass a resolution mandating the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to conduct an assessment mission in Nagorno-Karabakh and provide the essential humanitarian assistance required by the population. Additionally, it's crucial to execute the legally binding mandates of the International Court of Justice by unblocking the Lachin Corridor. The humanitarian convoy has remained stranded at the border for two weeks now.”

He concluded by emphasizing that the current situation transcends the status of Nagorno-Karabakh and added that the population suffers immensely, marked by food shortages, lack of medical supplies, and urgent necessities. He stressed the imperative for immediate intervention by the international community to avert the occurrence of mass atrocities.