Mr. Efstathiou spoke yesterday on the humanitarian consequences of the Lachin corridor blockade at the Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
In the context of the proceedings of the 1st Part of the Plenary Session of the Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), MEP Mr. Kostis Efstathiou participated yesterday in a plenary debate on the humanitarian consequences of the closure of the Lachin corridor in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Mr. Efstathiou pointed out that Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin corridor connecting the Nagorno-Karabakh region with Armenia prevents 120 thousand Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, including children and other vulnerable groups of the population, from accessing basic goods and services. The targeting of the civilian population and the consequent exposure of the civilian population to inhumane living conditions, without water, food, electricity and access to medical care, amounts to genocide, Mr Efstathiou stressed. This dangerous development, the Cypriot MP stressed, could potentially cause a new humanitarian crisis, call into question the fragile peace process, in violation of the tripartite agreement of 9 November 2020, and lead to a new armed conflict, with disastrous consequences for the entire South Caucasus region.
Such unacceptable actions, which violate basic human rights, are in complete contradiction with the principles and values of the Council of Europe and cannot be tolerated by the international community, Mr.Efstathiou stressed. Finally, he called on Azerbaijan to respect and ensure the rights and security of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh and to restore the functioning and free use of the Lachin corridor.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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