Category: 2023

 15:32, 9 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke by phone on September 9 with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

PM Pashinyan and Secretary Blinken discussed the worsening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor, the accumulation of Azerbaijani troops around Nagorno-Karabakh, and the increasing tension on the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

Prime Minister Pashinyan once again emphasized his commitment to the approach of settling all issues exclusively through diplomatic means and in a constructive atmosphere, based on the agreements reached on October 6, 2022 in Prague and on May 14, 2023 in Brussels.

Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of resolving all issues through dialogue and peaceful diplomatic means, and noted that the US will continue active efforts in that direction.

The Prime Minister and the US Secretary of State considered the escalation of the situation unacceptable, stressing the need to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that he is ready to have urgent discussions with the President of Azerbaijan for this purpose.

 16:30, 9 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke by phone on Saturday with his Georgian counterpart Irakli Garibashvili to discuss issues related to the current situation in the region, the Prime Minister’s Office reported.

PM Pashinyan and PM Garibashvili discussed the worsening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh due to the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor, the accumulation of Azerbaijani troops around Nagorno-Karabakh, and the increase in tension on the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

“Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized his commitment to the Prague agreements of October 6, 2022 and Brussels agreements of May 14, 2023, as well as to the approaches to solving all issues exclusively through diplomatic means and in a constructive atmosphere.

The Prime Minister of Georgia stated that he is ready to make necessary efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.

The sides emphasized the settlement of existing problems through peaceful negotiations.

PM Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed that he is ready to have urgent discussions with the President of Azerbaijan,” the Prime Minister’s Office added.

 16:58, 9 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The European Union has announced it doesn’t recognize the presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabakh but believes “it is important for the Karabakh Armenians to consolidate around de facto leadership that is able and willing to engage in result-oriented discussions with Baku.”

The EU’s diplomatic service issued a statement after Samvel Shahramanyan was elected President of Nagorno-Karabakh on September 9.

“In view of the so-called 'presidential elections' in Khankendi/Stepanakert on 9 September 2023, the European Union reiterates that it does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework within which they have been held. At the same time, the EU believes that it is important for the Karabakh Armenians to consolidate around de facto leadership that is able and willing to engage in result-oriented discussions with Baku. The EU is committed to supporting this process,” the European Union External Action Service said.

 19:41, 9 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. President of Argentina Alberto Fernández, speaking at the G20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday, called out Azerbaijan for its “painful” blockade of the Lachin Corridor that has caused a humanitarian crisis.

“At a time when there’s war in Eastern Europe, violent conflicts are emerging, which get less public attention but are equally painful, such as the blockade of Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, which has caused a humanitarian crisis, aimed at punishing the Armenian people on its own territory. Argentina reiterates its commitment to multilateralism as a supreme method for international mutual-understanding,” Diario Armenia newspaper quoted Fernández as saying.

 19:16, 9 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz has called for a swift agreement to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and open the Lachin Corridor, according to the German government’s readout of Scholz’s phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“Today, Chancellor Scholz spoke by phone with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The tense situation in the border regions between Armenia and Azerbaijan was in the focus. The Federal Chancellor expressed his deep concern over the growing tension of the past weeks, particularly over the movements of military formations. The federal government is strongly urging to refrain from any military escalation. Now it is necessary to swiftly achieve an agreement over providing humanitarian aid to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, including over the opening of Lachin Corridor. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan can only be resolved diplomatically. Now everyone should work constructively in the direction of this goal without delay,” Scholz’s office said in the readout.

In the September 9 phone call, the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office said that he briefed the German Chancellor on the Azeri military buildup and rising tensions.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials and experts warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing and genocide against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

 21:10, 9 September 2023

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) authorities announced Saturday that Russian aid will be delivered through the Aghdam road and that at the same time an agreement has been reached to restore humanitarian transit along Lachin Corridor.

“The Russian government has initiated the provision of humanitarian aid to the Republic of Artsakh, given the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. The aid, which includes Russian-made essential products, has been sent to Artsakh through the Russian Red Cross by their vehicles. The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, based on the need to mitigate the severe humanitarian problems resulting from the total blockade by Azerbaijan, have decided to allow access of the Russian goods to our republic through the town of Askeran. At the same time, an agreement has been reached to restore humanitarian shipments by the Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross along Lachin Corridor,” the Nagorno-Karabakh official InfoCenter said in a statement.

 21:22, 9 September 2023

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has again falsely accused the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army of carrying out fortification works, the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said Saturday.

The disinformation generated by the Azeri authorities falsely claimed that the Azeri military thwarted fortification works by the Nagorno-Karabakh military in the Martuni region on September 9.

In a statement, the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry said that they haven’t conducted any fortification activities and that the Azeri accusations are disinformation.

“The statement released by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claiming that around 19:15, September 9, the Defense Army units attempted to conduct fortification works in Martuni region, which were thwarted by the actions of the Azerbaijani units, is yet another disinformation,” the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry said.