Author: Garnik Tadevosian

                                        Thursday, 
Armenian PM Makes First Trip To Syunik By Plane
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is being greeted by local officials in 
Kapan, Syunik, after arriving by plane. .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Thursday made his first visit to the 
country’s southern Syunik province by plane.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Pashinian traveled to Kapan on board a small 
passenger plane ahead of the start of regular flights between Yerevan and this 
Syunik town next week.
It said that on the trip Pashinian was accompanied by Minister of Territorial 
Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosian.
Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasian, Kapan Mayor Gevorg Parsian and other officials 
reportedly welcomed the prime minister at Kapan’s recently renovated airport.
A video posted by the Prime Minister’s Office showed Pashinian touring the 
airport to inspect its conditions.
According to the report, a demonstration Yerevan-Kapan flight will take place on 
August 19 on the occasion of Kapan’s day, after which regular flights will be 
scheduled beginning next week.
The first test passenger flight from Yerevan to Kapan was operated in late April 
to become the first such flight since the 1990s, barring one private flight made 
in 2017.
The Civil Aviation Committee said then an Armenia-registered L-410 passenger 
plane (made in the Czech Republic) designed for 19 passengers successfully 
landed at Kapan’s Syunik Airport after a 48-minute flight from Yerevan’s 
International Zvartnots Airport. It described that flight as a “truly historic” 
event.
Kapan is situated some 190 kilometers to the southeast of capital Yerevan not 
far from the border with Azerbaijan. The runway of its airport stretches along 
the border and at one point is situated less than a hundred meters from it.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh for 
decades. Tensions along their restive border have persisted despite a 
Russia-brokered ceasefire that stopped a deadly six-week Armenian-Azerbaijani 
war in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020.
Picket In Yerevan Demands Action To ‘Ensure Safety’ Of Karabakh Armenians
        • Anush Mkrtchian
A protest in front of the UN office in Yerevan. .
A group of several activists in Yerevan demanded on Thursday that the Armenian 
government take steps to ensure the safety of people in Nagorno-Karabakh who 
experience shortages of food, medicines, fuel and other basic products due to an 
ongoing blockade effectively imposed by Azerbaijan.
The activists who picketed the Government building simultaneously with the 
weekly cabinet session did not elaborate as to how the authorities should 
achieve these goals, but stressed that Armenia must not recognize 
Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan or make other “unilateral concessions” at 
negotiations with Baku.
At the cabinet session Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian spoke about the August 16 
discussions at the UN Security Council of the deepening humanitarian crisis in 
Nagorno-Karabakh brought on by Azerbaijan’s de facto blockade of the Lachin 
corridor, the only road connecting Armenia with the region. He said that they 
highlighted the fact of the closure of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan.
Pashinian again urged Azerbaijan to end “the illegal closure” of the Lachin 
corridor and allow the passage of two dozen Armenian trucks with humanitarian 
aid currently stranded near the entrance to the corridor on the Armenian side.
“Azerbaijan, on the one hand, has closed access to Nagorno-Karabakh for 100 tons 
of flour sent by the Armenian government, on the other hand, it does not allow 
the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to harvest the sown wheat [by shooting at 
farmers]. This is yet another fact that substantiates the thesis put forward by 
international experts that Azerbaijan is carrying out a genocide through hunger 
and, therefore, the opening of the Lachin corridor should be considered as a 
step to prevent genocide,” the Armenian prime minister said.
Pashinian reiterated that as the best way of ending the situation Yerevan sees a 
dialogue between Stepanakert and Baku, reaffirming Armenia’s commitment to peace.
Government critics see the kind of position coupled with Pashinian’s repeated 
public statements that Armenia is ready to recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial 
integrity as a blow to the right of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to 
self-determination. They also claim that Pashinian and his political team 
thereby renege on their election pledge.
Lilit Kocharian, one of the activists who initiated today’s picket, told 
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that one of their goals was to remind the prime 
minister about his 2021 election pledge of seeking “remedial secession” for 
Nagorno-Karabakh.
“It is under this slogan that he went to the elections, and now he stands up and 
says that he has a mandate and can do whatever he wants. But it is not so. We 
just want to make it clear that he does not have a mandate to hand over Artsakh 
[Nagorno-Karabakh – ed.], he does not have a mandate from Armenia to make 
unilateral concessions at the expense of Armenia and Artsakh, something that has 
been happening for the last three years,” Kocharian said.
She said that before demanding anything from international bodies, they need to 
raise problems in front of local politicians and statesmen, insisting that 
Armenia should be the guarantor of the security of Karabakh Armenians instead of 
handing over the responsibility to Russian peacekeepers.
“These people [Karabakh Armenians] bear passports of citizens of the Republic of 
Armenia, and it is written there who the guarantor of the holders of those 
passports is. It is the Republic of Armenia,” Kocharian said.
Another civil initiative called “Batsum” (Opening) has been collecting dry food 
near the United Nations office in Yerevan for a month, demanding that the 
international organization deliver it to the “besieged Artsakh people facing the 
threat of hunger.”
According to Narek Ayvazian, a member of the initiative group, they monitor the 
stock 24 hours a day, believing that it will eventually reach its destination.
“In any case, we hope that what we have done by raising our voice in support of 
our compatriots in front of international institutions is having some effect, 
including on decision-makers,” Ayvazian said.
The Batsum initiative announced a simultaneous rally in Yerevan, Stepanakert, 
Los Angeles and New York later this week demanding the opening of the vital 
corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pashinian Says Fact Of Lachin Corridor Closure ‘Highlighted’ At UN Security 
Council
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks at a cabinet meeting in Yerevan 
(file photo)
The fact of the closure of the Lachin Corridor was highlighted at the highest 
international instance, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on 
Thursday, summarizing the discussion on the humanitarian situation in 
Nagorno-Karabakh held at the UN Security Council in New York the previous day.
Speaking at a weekly cabinet session, Pashinian said: “Of course, it may seem 
strange to the Armenian public that I am stating this as a result of the 
discussion at the UN Security Council, but we must not forget that Azerbaijan 
constantly and continuously insists that the Lachin Corridor is not closed.”
The Armenian premier said that the discussion at the UN Security Council also 
confirmed the existence of a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and “the 
fact that the lives and safety of 120,000 people of Nagorno-Karabakh are in 
question.”
“Thirdly, it was emphasized that the decision of the International Court of 
Justice on ensuring uninterrupted movement of people, vehicles and cargo through 
the Lachin Corridor in both directions has not been implemented by Azerbaijan,” 
Pashinian said.
“Now we can state that the truth about the illegal blocking of the Lachin 
Corridor and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh has been 
spoken about at the highest international instance. Also, the international 
community has made a collective appeal to Azerbaijan to eliminate the illegal 
blocking of the Lachin Corridor,” the Armenian leader concluded.
While most members of the UN Security Council seem to agree that the Lachin 
Corridor, the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, should be 
reopened, it is not clear yet whether the body will adopt a resolution or a 
statement on the matter after two-hour long discussions on August 16.
In his remarks at the meeting held at Yerevan’s request Armenian Foreign 
Minister Ararat Mirzoyan formulated Armenia’s expectations from the UN Security 
Council.
“We expect this Council to condemn the use of starvation of civilians as a 
method of warfare, to call for the immediate restoration of freedom and security 
of movement of persons, vehicles and cargo, in line with the previously reached 
agreements, through the Lachin corridor; to dispatch an independent inter-agency 
needs assessment mission in Nagorno-Karabakh and provide humanitarian assistance 
to the affected population,” Mirzoyan said, in particular.
Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the UN Yashar Aliyev said Armenia’s “allegations 
about famine and genocide are false and fictitious.”
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who presided over the 
meeting, urged the government of Azerbaijan to restore free movement through the 
Lachin Corridor “so that commercial, humanitarian, and private vehicles can 
reach the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
“We also note the possibility of compromise on additional routes for 
humanitarian supplies,” she said.
Baku offers alternative ways of supplies to Karabakh Armenians, notably through 
a road via Agdam, an Azerbaijani-controlled town east of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s de facto ethnic Armenian government rejects the offer, 
considering it as a prelude to the region’s absorption into Azerbaijan.
Most UN Security Council Members Back Lachin Corridor Opening During Discussions
        • Heghine Buniatian
The UN Security Council discusses the humanitarian situation in Nagorno 
Karabakh, New York, .
While most members of the United Nations Security Council seem to agree that the 
Lachin corridor linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia should be opened, it is 
not clear yet whether the body will adopt a resolution or a statement on the 
matter after two-hour long discussions on August 16.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in his speech clearly emphasized the 
expectations of the Armenian side from the UN Security Council that gathered for 
an urgent meeting in New York at Yerevan’s request.
“We expect this Council to condemn the use of starvation of civilians as a 
method of warfare, to call for the immediate restoration of freedom and security 
of movement of persons, vehicles and cargo, in line with the previously reached 
agreements, through the Lachin corridor; to dispatch an independent inter-agency 
needs assessment mission in Nagorno-Karabakh and provide humanitarian assistance 
to the affected population,” Mirzoyan said, in particular.
The overwhelming majority of representatives of the Security Council’s 15 member 
states agreed that humanitarian issues cannot be used as a truncheon to suppress 
the rights of 120,000 people living in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Most of the diplomats clearly emphasized that the Lachine Corridor must be 
opened, while others considered it possible to open other routes as well.
“We urge the government of Azerbaijan to restore free movement through the 
corridor – so commercial, humanitarian, and private vehicles can reach the 
population of Nagorno-Karabakh. We also note the possibility of compromise on 
additional routes for humanitarian supplies,” said U.S. Ambassador to the UN 
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who presided over the meeting.
The representative of Russia insisted that Moscow presented such a proposal to 
the parties several weeks ago: “On July 25, at the meeting with the foreign 
ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Russian side proposed realistic, 
compromise-based solutions to ease the tension. We are talking about 
simultaneously opening the Agdam and Lachin corridors for the transportation of 
civilians and non-military goods.”
The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is harming the 
peace process, the European Union ambassador said, stating that the EU border 
monitoring mission in Armenia has recorded a number of ceasefire violations 
along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in recent months.
Meanwhile, Baku’s official representative categorically denied the accusations. 
“Allegations about famine and genocide are false and fictitious,” Yashar Aliyev 
said.
“Azerbaijan pursues a policy of reintegrating the ethnic Armenians of the 
Karabakh region, considering them as equal citizens, and guarantees for them all 
the rights and freedoms provided by the Constitution of Azerbaijan. We are 
determined to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the 
Azerbaijani diplomat said.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that after hearing 
the arguments of the parties, as well as the positions of the members of the 
Security Council the text of the resolution or statement may be put into 
circulation in the next 24 hours.
Armenia Says Preventing Genocide ‘Core Duty’ Of UN, Its Security Council
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan addresses a UN Security Council 
meeting on the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, New York, August 16, 
2023.
Armenia urged the United Nations Security Council to prevent a “genocide” by 
demanding that Azerbaijan immediately restore free transit of people, vehicles 
and goods to Nagorno-Karabakh as the body held an emergency meeting on Wednesday 
at Yerevan’s request.
During the meeting in New York over what Yerevan says is an ongoing blockade of 
the Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan Armenian Foreign 
Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that Armenia expected the UN Security Council to 
condemn “the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, prohibited 
by international law” and “the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and 
depriving the civilian population in Nagorno-Karabakh of objects indispensable 
to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supply and access for 
responses to conflict‑induced food insecurity.”
“[We expect the Council] to demand full compliance with obligations under the 
international humanitarian law, including those related to the protection of 
civilians, in particular women and children, and critical civilian 
infrastructure; to call for the immediate restoration of freedom and security of 
movement of persons, vehicles and cargo, in line with the previously reached 
agreements, through the Lachin corridor; to ensure full cooperation of the 
parties in good faith with the International Committee of the Red Cross and safe 
and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance; to dispatch an independent 
inter-agency needs assessment mission in Nagorno-Karabakh and provide 
humanitarian assistance to the affected population,” Mirzoyan said.
The Armenian minister emphasized that “these humanitarian issues clearly need to 
be resolved with the international community’s strong intervention before the 
negative consequences result in ethnic cleansing of the people of 
Nagorno-Karabakh.”
“According to the elected representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh, ‘this is a 
deliberately engineered crime, driven by evident genocidal intent. The 
Azerbaijani authorities purposefully instigated the blockade of the Lachin 
corridor, with the knowledge that it would subject the entire population of 
Nagorno-Karabakh to a gradual demise, yet chose to persist with this course of 
action’,” Mirzoyan explained.
Presenting facts and figures, the chronology and consequences of the eight-month 
blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with 
Armenia and the outside world, Mirzoyan noted: “The report of former 
International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo reflects that it is 
already a genocide that is happening in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to Mr. 
Ocampo, “The blockade of the Lachin corridor by the Azerbaijani security forces 
impeding access to any food, medical supplies, and other essentials should be 
considered a Genocide under Article II, (c) of the Genocide Convention: 
‘Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring 
about its physical destruction. Starvation is the invisible Genocide weapon. 
Without immediate dramatic change, this group of Armenians will be destroyed in 
a few weeks’.”
The Armenian foreign minister stressed that “the prevention of such a 
catastrophe is a core duty of the United Nations and this Council.”
“I do believe that this distinguished body, despite of geopolitical differences, 
has capacity to act as genocide prevention body and not as genocide 
commemoration, when it might be too late,” he added.
“During the previous months, many of you tried to address the issue of opening 
the Lachin corridor. However, despite all the calls, the commitments undertaken 
by the Trilateral statement from November 9, 2020, the legally binding orders of 
the International Court of Justice the situation did not improve on the ground. 
Quite contrary, Azerbaijan incrementally but consistently severed the blockade 
to the degree of a complete siege of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia raised its 
concerns on the deepening of the humanitarian crisis as a result of a closure of 
the Lachin corridor in all negotiations with Azerbaijan, which were separately 
facilitated and mediated by the United States, the European Union and Russia. 
And yet to no avail.
“Throughout this time, Azerbaijan’s engagement has been anything but in good 
faith. Back to the first discussion on this issue in the Security Council, 
Azerbaijan denied any responsibility on the actions thereon and even claimed 
that it was not controlling the Lachin corridor. Throughout the past eight 
months, Azerbaijan brought a number of pretexts aimed at justifying its actions. 
First, it was so-called eco-activists with environmental concerns, then baseless 
allegations of transporting arms through the Lachin corridor, furthermore 
military provocations and so on,” Mirozyan said.
“The Lachin corridor has been agreed as a link between Armenia and 
Nagorno-Karabakh and has no alternative. The Lachin corridor should be opened, 
and when it comes to other possible communications, this should be addressed 
within an international mechanism of Baku-Stepanakert dialogue.
“Today I am here to seek the support of this august body in maintaining the 
prospect of reaching just and comprehensive peace and stability in our region, 
which is seriously undermined by Azerbaijan with the humanitarian calamity on 
the ground in Nagorno-Karabakh.
During the last two years, Armenia, with the help of the international 
community, spared no efforts to establish peace and stability in our region. And 
I believe today we still have the opportunity to reach this aim. But the current 
humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has the full potential to deteriorate 
the prospects for peace in the whole region of South Caucasus and even beyond,” 
the Armenian foreign minister said.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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