Armenia not getting involved in Lachin negotiations, says official

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia is not entering into negotiations on when and how the Lachin corridor in Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) will be unblocked, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan said in an interview with FactorTV.

Armenia's position is that the Lachin corridor should open as soon as possible and operate uninterruptedly for people and cargo, Grigoryan said Thursday, February 23.

“Armenia continues to demand and speak to its international partners so that they, too, demand that the Lachin corridor work smoothly,” the Secretary said.

“But, like I said, Armenia is not getting involved in negotiations or discussions about when and how the Lachin corridor will be opened.”

The United Nations’ top court on Wednesday ordered Azerbaijan to restore “unimpeded” traffic through the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

Grigoryan noted that Baku is obliged to comply with the decision of the Court, which once again confirms that the Lachin corridor remains closed.

Since December 12, the sole road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia - the Lachin Corridor - has been blocked by self-described Azerbaijani environmentalists. Karabakh residents have reported food and fuel shortages, while hospital patients don't have access to essential medicines, with only a handful allowed transfer to facilities in Armenia proper.