Azeri narrative that 'Nagorno Karabakh doesn’t exist' is gross violation of trilateral statement, humanitarian law - PM

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. By saying that Nagorno Karabakh doesn’t exist Azerbaijan is essentially saying that the refugees have no place to return, which is a gross violation of not only the 9 November trilateral statement but also of humanitarian law, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting speaking about Azerbaijan’s blocking of the Lachin Corridor.

“Azerbaijan’s continuous claims that Nagorno Karabakh doesn’t exist is also a gross violation of the trilateral statement,” Pashinyan added.

The Armenian Prime Minister noted the violation of clause 6 of the trilateral statement regarding the function of the Lachin Corridor.

Azerbaijan is also continuously and grossly violating clause 7, according to which internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to the Nagorno Karabakh territory and adjacent areas under the supervision of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

“So far the representatives of the UN haven’t been able to access Nagorno Karabakh because of the obstructions created by Azerbaijan. Up to this day the issues of the forcibly displaced persons from NK’s Hadrut region aren’t resolved,” Pashinyan said.

He quoted a part of clause 7 of the statement – “refugees return to Nagorno Karabakh territory.” “This terming means that Nagorno Karabakh exists and Nagorno Karabakh has territory. And by saying that Nagorno Karabakh doesn’t exist and not accepting the existence of this territorial entity Azerbaijan is essentially saying that the refugees have no place to return, which is a gross violation of not only the trilateral statement but also humanitarian law.”