On August 16, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the humanitarian situation in Karabakh.

Caucasus Watch presents how regional and international actors responded to the questions and the discussed issue.

Armenia

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan accused the Azerbaijani government of cutting off the 'life path' of the Karabakh Armenians to Armenia and the world, thereby jeopardizing the peace prospects.

Mirzoyan stated that Baku established a border crossing point in Lachin, closed the Lachin-Khankendi/Stepanakert road shortly after, and did not allow a convoy of humanitarian vehicles from Armenia to Karabakh to enter the territory, stressing that these steps are contrary to the tripartite agreement reached in November 2020.

"There is no economic activity in Karabakh due to the blockade. Thousands of people are unemployed because it is impossible to pay them. Even people who have money cannot buy anything because the counters are empty," Mirzoyan described the current situation of Karabakh Armenians.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia called on the members of the UN Security Council to condemn Azerbaijan for its policy in Karabakh and to strengthen efforts to improve the humanitarian situation of Armenians.

Azerbaijan

Yashar Aliyev, the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN: "What Armenia is trying to present as a humanitarian issue is actually a provocative and irresponsible political campaign aimed at attacking Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. For almost 30 years, it is Armenia that has ignored the relevant four resolutions of 1993 and several statements by the Chairman of the Security Council demanding the complete, immediate, and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from the territory of Azerbaijan. In this context, Armenia's actions are nothing but the embodiment of pre-planned political hypocrisy."

Aliyev said: "Karabakh region is an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, and ethnic Armenians living there are considered residents of Azerbaijan. The government of Azerbaijan is determined to provide these residents with access to necessary goods and create appropriate living conditions for them. These goals are fully consistent with international law and the principles of international humanitarian law, which demonstrates Azerbaijan's unwavering commitment to complying with these standards."

The Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN emphasized: "If Armenia really cared about the ordinary residents of the region, then it would never object to the delivery of goods to the Karabakh region via the Aghdam-Khankendi road. This road is one of the main transport routes of Azerbaijan, known as the Silk Road or M2, and is reliable for international markets. Compared to the 59 km Lachin-Khankendi road, which stretches through mountain serpentines, the road length between Aghdam and Khankendi is only 18 km. Today, within the framework of the visit to Aghdam, diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan, including the UN, the office of the resident coordinator, and representatives of other UN structures, witnessed the road operation and preparation for cargo transportation."

Regional actors

Dmitry Polyansky, the First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, called to consider the issue of using the Aghdam-Khankendi/Stepanakert road. In the UN Security Council, he expressed his concern about blocking the corridor. Russia advised Yerevan to solve the problems with Baku and not to bring the issue to the platform of the UN Security Council.

Turkey's representative said: "Turkey is worried about Armenia's attempt to bring groundless accusations against Baku from the UN Security Council. Turkey declares that Azerbaijan has the right to do what it wants on its sovereign territory and states that the separatists are not negotiating with Baku."

International actors

France demanded the immediate opening of the Lachin corridor. France's Permanent Representative to the UN said: "Paris calls for free movement along the Lachin Corridor. We are against the use of force. For more than eight months, Azerbaijan has completely closed the corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. This quarantine is without any legal reason."

Japan called on the parties to comply with international law.

Albania welcomed the commitment of Baku and Yerevan to negotiations in the UN Security Council and noted the importance of the construction of the railway in the direction of the Zangezur corridor. The representative of Albania said that the corridor of Lachin goes to the mountains through a difficult road. "Agdam Road is more comfortable," the representative of Albania added.

China called on the UN Security Council parties to resolve the Lachin Corridor dispute through diplomacy. China called on Baku and Yerevan to move towards each other. 

Switzerland also emphasized the importance of solving the processes diplomatically. It emphasized the importance of ensuring the fundamental rights of the people living in Karabakh. "The situation is unacceptable; the vital corridor must be opened immediately. Azerbaijan should ensure the unimpeded movement of people, goods, and transport through the Lachin corridor," the Swiss diplomat said.

Great Britain representative said that they are concerned about the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, calling for the restoration of free movement along the corridor.

Azerbaijan Releases Information About Meeting

On August 17, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry released information about the meeting. 

"Armenia's attempt to use the UN Security Council for its blackmail campaign once again failed. Such efforts to manipulate and exploit the said supreme body of Armenia are not only unproductive in terms of advancing the normalization agenda in the post-conflict period, but also extremely destructive," it added.

"Azerbaijan hopes that Armenia will finally understand that the way to solve the issues is through constructive interaction, as well as the honest fulfillment of international legal norms and obligations taken in this framework. As emphasized by many members of the UN Security Council, the basis of peace and stability in the region is the recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity, both in words and in practice," the information added.

"The need for sincere dialogue and honest interaction regarding the operation of all routes proposed by Azerbaijan, especially the Aghdam-Khankendi road, to meet the needs of several UN Security Council member states, as well as Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region of Turkey. We appreciate the statements made," the ministry said.

"Azerbaijan is committed to constructive interaction with all parties who are genuinely interested in advancing the normalization agenda and thereby willing to contribute to achieving the long-awaited peace and stability in the region, as well as succeeding in this direction," it concluded.

Nikol Pashinyan Talks About UNSC Meeting

On August 17, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired the regular Cabinet meeting. Before discussing the issues on the agenda, the Prime Minister referred to the UN Security Council session on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Yesterday, the UN Security Council held an urgent discussion on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor," the information said.

"First, the fact of Lachin Corridor being closed was emphasized by the highest international body. Of course, it may seem strange to the Armenian public that I am saying this as something recorded at the discussion in the Security Council, but we should not forget that Azerbaijan constantly and continuously insists that the Lachin Corridor is not closed. Second, the discussion in the UN Security Council confirmed the existence of a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and the fact that the lives and safety of 120 thousand people of Nagorno-Karabakh are in doubt. Thirdly, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan failed to implement the decision of the International Court of Justice to ensure uninterrupted movement of people, vehicles, and cargo in both directions through the Lachin Corridor," 

Pashinyan continued.

Armenian Prime Minister noted, "I must repeat what I said before that the best solution to the created situation is the removal of the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, the start of the Stepanakert-Baku dialogue within the framework of an international mechanism. The Republic of Armenia, for its part, continues to reaffirm its commitment to the peace agenda and calls on official Baku to refrain from taking steps aimed at nullifying the historic opportunity to establish peace."

Azerbaijan Responds to Pashinyan

On the same day, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's distortion of the discussions held in the UN Security Council and the statements made by the member states during his speech at the government meeting on August 17 shows once again that Armenia once again does not want to accept failure.

"As most of the members of the UN Security Council have emphasized, despite the importance of respecting the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity both in word and in deed to establish peace and stability in the region, it is a cause for concern that the Armenian side, repeating excuses such as 'humanitarian situation in the region' and 'blockade,' exhibits a destructive position," the information said.

"The Armenian side should understand that the way to ensure peace and stability in the region is not to raise the issue in the UN Security Council with groundless claims but to establish relations with neighboring countries based on the confirmation and respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty, and direct constructive negotiations with Azerbaijan to establish peace," the report added.