Armenian bishops urge UN to stop Azerbaijan’s genocidal actions

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia-based bishops have sent a letter to the leaders of the UN Security Council with a call to take measures to protect the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

"Amid an acute shortage of food, medicine and other essentials in Artsakh, every day we learn about a sudden deterioration in the health of people, including children, pregnant women and the sick, about tragic deaths. Along with a complete blockade, the Azerbaijani authorities in order to ethnic cleansing continue to carry out terrorist activities aimed at causing the people of Artsakh constant fear, hopelessness, a sense of insecurity and a desire to leave their homeland," reads the message released by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The bishops note that such hostile actions of Azerbaijan are not only a crime against the Armenians of Artsakh, but also an open challenge to the entire civilized world and international organizations. In this regard, the bishops appeal to the leaders of the member states of the UN Security Council with a call to take effective measures, forcing Azerbaijan to abandon genocidal actions.

"Peace in the region cannot be established by exterminating the people of Artsakh or violating their fundamental rights to a peaceful, secure and dignified life. We are deeply concerned about the position of the Armenian authorities on recognizing Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. We call on the current authorities not to abandon the obligations assumed by Armenia to protect the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and to consolidate all state and national capabilities and potentials to protect the safe, secure and sovereign life of the people of Artsakh," the appeal says.

Since December 12, 2022, the sole road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia - the Lachin Corridor - has been blocked by Azerbaijan. Baku tightened the blockade on June 15, 2023, banning emergency relief supplies that were carried out by Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross through the sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world. The move aggravated the shortages of food, medicine and other essential items experienced by the region’s population.