How are the Karabakh discussions at the UN interpreted in Azerbaijan?

A United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting, convened at the request of Armenia, took place on August 16 to address the situation in Karabakh. During the meeting, Armenia claimed that the Lachin corridor linking it to Khankendi had been blocked, leading to a shortage of provisions. However, Azerbaijan contested this assertion, stating that there was no humanitarian blockade and suggested the utilization of an alternate route via Aghdam. Armenia rejected this alternative as well, citing the reference to the Lachin corridor in the November 2020 trilateral agreement.

Various stances, including neutral perspectives, were voiced during the discussions.

Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, called upon Azerbaijan to restore unhindered movement along the Lachin corridor, emphasizing the need for free passage of commercial, humanitarian, and personal vehicles to Nagorno-Karabakh's population. He underlined that access to essential items like food, medicine, and infant formula should never be compromised.

The ambassador underscored the importance of normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, asserting that regional peace should encompass safeguarding the rights of individuals in Nagorno-Karabakh.

He urged both parties to exercise restraint, cease actions that disrupt the peace process, and fulfill their commitments under international humanitarian law, highlighting the vital role of negotiations for enduring peace.

Silvio Gonzato, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to the UN, stressed the need to depoliticize humanitarian aid and promptly open the Lachin corridor. He referenced the trilateral agreement from November 2020 and the International Court of Justice's decision in February 2023, asserting Azerbaijan's responsibility for securing safety and unobstructed movement along the corridor.

Brazil's representative, Sergio Daneze, expressed Brazil's commitment to respecting Armenia and Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized boundaries. He encouraged the parties to explore mechanisms to ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid access to Karabakh, including the potential use of the Aghdam-Khankendi route. He emphasized the urgency of finding a solution to the crisis, which could exacerbate as winter approaches.

Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, affirmed Russia's efforts, both through diplomatic channels and on-the-ground peacekeeping, to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. He highlighted the importance of delineating and subsequently demarcating the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, under the expert guidance of Moscow, as outlined in the trilateral agreements. Polyansky emphasized the need for secure, clear guarantees in accordance with Azerbaijani laws and international principles to facilitate party reconciliation, alongside protecting the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh residents.

After the discussions, no formal documents were adopted.

Hikmet Babaoglu, Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on defense, security, and combating corruption, in an interview with Turan  commended Azerbaijan's diplomatic approach during the discussions. He noted that Armenia's high expectations for the talks aimed to pressure Azerbaijan persistently, but Azerbaijan's preparedness and actions effectively countered these provocations.

Political commentator Zardusht Alizadeh suggested in an interview with Radio Azadlig that Armenia's decision to discuss the Karabakh situation in the UN Security Council is consistent with domestic policy. Alizadeh speculated that Armenia's Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, aimed to support his candidate's election as Mayor of Yerevan and to portray himself as working for Karabakh. Alizadeh pointed out that the claims made by Armenia lacked foundation and that there was no famine in Karabakh. Russia, in Alizadeh's view, aimed to maintain peacekeepers in the region beyond 2025 and orchestrated situations accordingly to achieve this objective.

Azer Gasimli, Head of the Institute of Political Management, shared a similar perspective, suggesting that Armenia's appeal to the UN Security Council aligned with its ruling elite's interests. He noted Russia's dual support for Azerbaijan and its military presence in Karabakh, which indicates open conversations between Russia and the Azerbaijani government. Gasimli cautioned that this could potentially threaten Azerbaijan's independence in the long run.

Armenia claimed that the Lachin-Khankendi road had been blocked since December of the previous year. Azerbaijan refuted this assertion, affirming the corridor's availability for humanitarian purposes. Azerbaijan had established a border checkpoint in April, citing concerns over illicit weapon transfers from Armenia to its territory. Armenia denied these allegations.