As the Lachin corridor blockage continues, efforts to organize a meeting between representatives of the Armenian community in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan have faced challenges, deepening the diplomatic complexities in the region.
The United States and the European Union offered to mediate the meeting, but Azerbaijan declined without offering specific reasons, according to Tigran Petrosyan, chairman of the Anti-Crisis Council.
In response, Russia has stepped in, expressing its willingness to facilitate a meeting either in Yevlakh or Baku. However, the Armenian side expressed doubts about the potential for fruitful dialogue in those locations. Petrosyan raised concerns about Russia’s past labeling of the representatives as national minorities, further complicating the issue.
Political commentator Shahin Jafarli shared a different perspective, suggesting that holding the meeting within Azerbaijan’s territory could create a more conducive environment for discussions. He acknowledged the concerns raised by the West’s proposal, as it might be seen as legitimizing two separate sides – Azerbaijan and Karabakh. However, Jafarli emphasized the need for direct talks without Russia’s mediation, expressing concerns about Moscow’s interests in resolving the conflict.
Beyond the diplomatic challenges, humanitarian concerns have come to the forefront of the conflict. Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Tiny Koch, expressed deep concern about the deterioration of the humanitarian and human rights situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. He called for a fact-finding mission to Azerbaijan to assess the situation of the Armenians, particularly regarding their access to the Lachin Corridor. Koch also echoed the Council of Europe Secretary General’s call for dialogue, urging both Azerbaijan and Armenia to fulfill their mutual obligations as member states of the Council of Europe.
The humanitarian situation in the Karabakh region remains a matter of grave concern for the international community, with urgent calls for meaningful dialogue and a peaceful resolution to alleviate the suffering of affected populations in the region.
