January 28, 2023 - 15:49 AMT
Donfried: Blinken called for immediate reopening of Lachin corridor

Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried has said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for the immediate reopening of the Lachin corridor.

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.

Donfried said in an interview with the Voice of America that the situation around the Lachin Corridor is an obstacle to the advancement of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to her, along with the humanitarian situation, that is why Washington is actively making efforts to reopen the corridor.

Donfrid emphasizes that the blocking the corridor was a priority in the recent telephone conversations of Blinken with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"The Secretary of State called for the immediate reopening of the corridor and stressed the importance of unhindered commercial and private traffic. We are very concerned about the situation of the local Armenian population in Nagorno Karabakh. We will continue to be involved and put pressure on this situation," he said.

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.