Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry responds to French Foreign Minister

Baku/16.08.23/Turan: Azerbaijan rejects the French Foreign Minister's claims that the Lachin road is blocked, which caused a humanitarian crisis in Karabakh. This is stated in the comment of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry due to the statements of French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna during her conversation with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

The Azerbaijani authorities have pledged to guarantee the safety of citizens, vehicles and cargoes on the Lachin road, as well as to prevent the misuse of the road for military and illegal economic purposes by Armenia.

The French side is well aware that the movement of dozens of Armenian residents in both directions was organised on this road during the day through the International Committee of the Red Cross. Besides, the UN International Court of Justice in its decision of 6 July rejected Armenia's demand to liquidate the Lachin border crossing point.

If the residents of Armenia really need basic necessities, the Azerbaijani side has offered the Aghdam-Khankandi road and other alternative routes for this purpose. Despite the support of the European Union and ICRC for the use of these roads, the French side does not support these agreements, the commentary said. -0-