YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARTSAKHPRESS. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna responded to French legislator Anne-Laurence Petel’s letter and addressed the situation around Lachin Corridor.
The French FM said it is necessary to extend the EU monitoring mission in Armenia.
Anne-Laurence Petel, the President of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, published the response on Twitter.
FM Colonna mentioned that the UN Security Council meeting was effective because the gas supply is restored and the Red Cross has access to Nagorno Karabakh.
“I entirely share your concern: the blockade since December 12 of the corridor connecting Armenia with Nagorno Karabakh is unacceptable and fraught with grave humanitarian consequences for the population of Nagorno Karabakh. France immediately called for the urgent and unconditional removal of restrictions for movement and reminded about Azerbaijan’s obligations in accordance with the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement – to guarantee the security of movement of persons, vehicles and goods in both directions. As you know, the Lachin Corridor is under the control of Russian peacekeeping forces in accordance with the same trilateral statement. Neither France, nor the EU nor the UN are present there. We must record that today Russia is still unable or unwilling to ensure the security guarantees entrusted to it. Given the seriousness of the situation, France introduced an initiative – to include the issue in the December 16 session of the UN Security Council agenda by the request of the Armenian government. Another emergency session of the Security Council, in an open-format, followed this session again at the initiative of France, which allowed all its members to state about the urgent restoration of movement along the corridor and access of humanitarian organizations into Nagorno Karabakh,” the French FM said.
She added that France maintains constant contact with European and American partners and all parties to achieve swift resolution.
The French FM said they are making efforts in order to give a permanent status to the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia. She said that the mission allowed to significantly reduce border tension and acted as an important measure for strengthening trust for supporting the ongoing negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“On that occasion a temporary assessment and planning mission was launched on territory of Armenia since December 20. It will allow to prepare for the rapid deployment of EU civilian monitors, which will start upon the 27 members of the EU approving its mandate. By being committed to its values, to international law and principles of the UN Charter, France continues working tirelessly – like it did for more than three decades – for fair and lasting peace in Caucasus. Peace from which first of all the Armenian people will benefit,” the French FM said.
