YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARTSAKHPRESS. The closure of the Lachin Corridor is a provocation with a final goal of a new military escalation, warned Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.
“The closure of the Lachin Corridor is a provocation, the final goal of which is a new military escalation, and steps which are desirable for those who’ve developed the scenario of the military escalation must not be taken,” Pashinyan said in a speech at the Cabinet meeting.
“One of the goals of this provocation and escalation is to conceal the explicit necessity for political and official dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert and sideline it from the agenda. Actions that would contribute to the implementation of this provocative task must not be taken,” the Armenian Prime Minister said.
PM Pashinyan called on the diplomatic service and all ministries with foreign connections to double their efforts to increase international awareness on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh. “Massive work was done in this regard, but more is needed, he said.
He added that the working group on assisting the people of Nagorno Karabakh to manage the humanitarian crisis must continue to take possible measures to resolve urgent issues.
The Lachin Corridor is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. The corridor is the only travel and supply route for the 120,000 Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). The blockade has caused a humanitarian crisis. Shortages of essential products such as food and medicine prompted Nagorno Karabakh authorities to introduce rationing. Hospitals are keeping planned surgeries on hold. 1,100 residents of Nagorno Karabakh, including 270 children who were in Armenia when the road was blocked are unable to return to their homes.
