Armenian officials don’t expect steps from Azerbaijan after ECHR interim measures in Lachin Corridor
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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian officials don’t expect any steps by Azerbaijan after the European Court of Human Rights decision to indicate interim measures in the Lachin Corridor.
Armenia’s Representative for International Legal Affairs Yeghishe Kirakosyan said the ECHR decision must be used in the political and diplomatic arenas.
“We didn’t expect any steps by Azerbaijan in the first place,” Kirakosyan said when asked at a press conference what tools could be used when Azerbaijan still continues to block the road. “Unfortunately the toolbox has limitations. Formally, there is the possibility of the following steps within the framework of the European Convention. There is the Committee of Ministers, whom the court can notify on the indicated measures, and the Committee of Ministers, being the main political body of the Council of Europe, is following the course of implementation of the court’s judgments and decisions. In case of necessity the Committee of Ministers must discuss and interfere in these issues, understand what steps are required politically in order to strengthen pressure against Azerbaijan. Naturally, there are procedures here as well, up to raising the issue of Azerbaijan violating its obligation in the European Court, issue of ousting Azerbaijan from the Council of Europe, but there is a very long road for that,” Kirakosyan said.
Kirakosyan said the ECHR decision is at least reflecting the objective reality and it can be used in political and diplomatic arenas. “This must be used politically, because the impact of this decision also depends on our diplomatic and political work,” he said.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Azerbaijan to enable essential travel between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia through Lachin Corridor, the road blocked by Azerbaijanis since December 12.
ECHR said the Azerbaijani authorities must “take all measures that are within their jurisdiction to ensure safe passage through the ‘Lachin Corridor’ of seriously ill persons in need of medical treatment in Armenia and others who were stranded on the road without shelter or means of subsistence.”
The road remains blocked.