UNITED NATIONS: In an urgent session held at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan rose as they traded allegations concerning the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
With approximately 120,000 people in the area, Armenia has claimed that these individuals are trapped in a dire situation due to an alleged blockade imposed by Azerbaijan, triggering a diplomatic showdown.
Armenia’s urgent plea for the UN Security Council meeting revolved around the Lachin Corridor, the sole road connecting the predominantly Armenian-inhabited Nagorno-Karabakh region to Armenia. This corridor has been under Azerbaijan’s blockade since July 15, causing critical shortages of essential supplies like food, medicine, and electricity for the local population.
The history of the Nagorno-Karabakh region further exacerbates the tensions. Originally part of Azerbaijan, the area fell under the control of ethnic Armenian forces, backed by Armenia, after separatist fighting concluded in 1994. However, Azerbaijan regained control of the surrounding territory through a six-week war in 2020, leaving the Lachin Corridor as Nagorno-Karabakh’s only physical link to Armenia, mediated by a Russian-brokered armistice.
During the UN Security Council meeting, numerous nations joined forces in calling for Azerbaijan to immediately reopen the Lachin Corridor. Citing directives from the International Court of Justice—the UN’s highest judicial body—these countries emphasized the need for diplomatic solutions to the nearly three-decade-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Though the Security Council did not issue an official statement, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who presided over the meeting, confirmed strong consensus among the council members for the urgent reopening of the Lachin Corridor. The ambassador asserted that this was the primary accomplishment of the session.
Edem Wasornu, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator, presented an update to the council during the meeting. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the sole international humanitarian agency with access to the region, reported that it had been unable to transport food and medicine through the Lachin Corridor since mid-June and early July, respectively. Wasornu emphasized that international humanitarian law obligates all parties to facilitate the swift delivery of aid to those in need and urged the resumption of the ICRC’s relief efforts through any available routes.
Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, highlighted the severe consequences of the blockade on Nagorno-Karabakh’s population. He underscored the dire economic conditions, rampant unemployment, empty stores, and extensive queues for basic essentials like bread, fruit, and vegetables. Moreover, Mirzoyan alleged that Azerbaijan’s disruption of electricity supply since January 9 has exacerbated the crisis. He cited a report from Luis Moreno Ocampo, the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, suggesting a potential genocide in progress due to the blockade.
Mirzoyan implored the Security Council to consider its role in preventing such a catastrophic outcome, emphasizing the council’s responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. He urged the council to act swiftly as a genocide prevention body rather than one that only commemorates such tragedies.
In response, Azerbaijan’s UN Ambassador, Yashar Aliyev, vehemently denied Armenia’s allegations of a blockade or a humanitarian crisis. He accused Armenia of engaging in a political campaign to undermine Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Aliyev defended Azerbaijan’s installation of a border checkpoint along the Lachin Corridor as a measure to safeguard its security and prevent illicit activities, including the movement of military personnel and unauthorized weapons transfers.
Aliyev disputed the genocide claims, citing a preliminary report by prominent British human rights lawyer Rodney Dixon. He pointed to Azerbaijan’s offer to supply goods through alternative routes as evidence of their commitment to addressing the crisis. Aliyev also shared photos from social media depicting celebrations in Nagorno-Karabakh, arguing that these images contradicted allegations of a humanitarian disaster.
Both Aliyev and Mirzoyan placed the blame on each other for the stalled diplomatic efforts. The European Union’s deputy UN ambassador, Silvio Gonzato, emphasized the non-politicization of humanitarian access and called for the immediate reopening of the Lachin Corridor. He underscored Azerbaijan’s responsibility to ensure the safety and freedom of movement along the corridor to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
