PACE speakers reacted to situation in Lachin corridor

Strasbourg/12/17/12/Turan: "We are deeply concerned about the violation of freedom of movement in the Lachin corridor, which creates significant difficulties for the population," said four co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on monitoring Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"Freedom and security of movement of people and goods must be urgently restored along the corridor. We call on all parties to the Trilateral Statement of November 9-10, 2020 to take the necessary measures immediately," said Co—Rapporteurs on Azerbaijan Jan Liddell-Granger (Great Britain) and Liz Kristoffersen (Norway) and Armenia - Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland) and Boriana Oberg (Sweden).

"The current situation and diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan were discussed on Wednesday by the PACE Monitoring Committee with the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar and the French Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Brice Rokfey.

"We confirm our readiness to provide all necessary political support, including a mission to establish facts in the region," they concluded.

Movement along the Lachin corridor was restricted on December 12 after Azerbaijani eco-activists began a protest action at the post of the Russian peacekeeping contingent near the city of Shusha demanding access of representatives of the authorized structures of Azerbaijan to the mines in Karabakh, which are illegally exploited by Karabakh separatists.

Baku rejects accusations that the road was closed by Azerbaijan.

Representatives of Azerbaijan stated that they do not obstruct the movement of civilian transport, and the road on both sides is closed by peacekeepers. -06B-