Azerbaijan bears the responsibility to ensure the rights and security of the Karabakh Armenians - EU
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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan bears the responsibility to ensure the rights and security of the Karabakh Armenians, including their right to live in their homesin dignitywithout intimidation and discrimination, as well as the right to return for those displaced, the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia said in a statement on September 29.
“Amass exodusofKarabakh Armeniansis currently taking place, as a result ofAzerbaijan’s military operation of 19 and 20 Septemberand of the previous months-long blockage of the Lachin corridor. People are fleeing their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh and are finding refuge in Armenia.
“It is urgentto ensure continuousunimpeded humanitariansupportto thosewhoare stillin need in Karabakh, as well as to those who have left.The European Unionsupportsthe work oftheInternationalCommittee of theRedCross (ICRC), whichis facilitatingtheurgent evacuation of wounded people as well as patients,andtheprovision of emergency assistance on the ground.
“The European Commission announced an additional package of humanitarian aid of EUR 5M toassist people displaced fromNagorno-Karabakh to Armeniaandthose who find themselves in a vulnerable situation insideKarabakh. The EU and its Member States stand ready to provide additional humanitarian assistance.
“Azerbaijan bears the responsibility to ensure the rights and security of the Karabakh Armenians, including their right to live in their homesin dignitywithout intimidation and discrimination, as well as the right to return for those displaced.It is essential that a UN missioncanaccess the territory within the next days.
“The European Unionhastakennote of the announced launch of a process of registration of Armenian residents through a dedicated portal by the Azerbaijani authorities. The EU will continue following closely the developments on the ground,” the EU said in the statement.
As of 10:00, September 29, 88,780 forcibly displaced persons had crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh amid the ongoing mass exodus following the September 19-20 Azerbaijani attack which ended after Nagorno-Karabakh authorities agreed to Azerbaijan’s terms in a Russian-brokered ceasefire deal.