PACE spring session continues. Among other issues, the members of the Armenian delegation speak about the developments in the South Caucasus, in particular, the situation around the Lachin Corridor. Hripsime Grigoryan, representative of the Armenian delegation to PACE, addressed Iceland's Foreign Minister and President of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir.
Hripsime Grigoryan (Representative of Armenia’s Delegation to PACE) - Madam Minister, we all face incredible challenges in the field of security and human rights. In this context, expectations from the Reykjavik summit are very high. It can relaunch the Council of Europe as an instrument of real democracy and the rule of law.
Grigoryan asked the President of Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers what to expect from the summit in terms of overcoming security challenges, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan's latest aggression against Armenia.
Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir (President of Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland) - The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is, of course, worrying. Freedom of movement through the Lachin Corridor must be ensured in accordance with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice. I have expressed my concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region months ago and I can only repeat my call to guarantee the free movement of people and goods through the Lachin Corridor.
Having become members of the organization in 2001 Armenia and Azerbaijan undertook to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Both countries must act in accordance with their obligations, must refrain from provocations. Dialogue plays a key role in avoiding further escalation.
As for the summit expected in Reykjavik in May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland emphasized that the issue of creating a special court for the investigation of aggression and crimes will be on the agenda. According to him, there is still no clarity on what it will look like, but they consider the question of bringing the aggressors to justice as a priority.
PRESSURE SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON AZERBAIJAN: GRIGORYAN
Hripsime Grigoryan, member of the Armenian delegation, also gave a speech at the discussion on ‘European Convention on Human Rights and National Constitutions’. She referred to the ‘Armenia v. Azerbaijan’ case in December 21 2022, the decision of the European Court of Human Rights to apply an interim measure regarding the blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.
Hripsime Grigoryan - Disobeying the court's decision, our Azerbaijani colleagues in this structure denied the fact of the blockade, as well as the connection of the Azerbaijani authorities with the so-called ‘eco-activists’ who blocked the road. This Sunday, Azerbaijan started the installation of a checkpoint. I am not sure that even after this they will accept the fact of the blockade. An opportunity for international observation should be created on the spot. So we have to decide whether we can afford to tolerate all this, or whether we will finally gather our strength to defend human rights and democracy against dictatorship.
The MP also noted that while everyone is busy with the war in Ukraine, Azerbaijan is trying to achieve its goals by violating international law and using force. According to Grigoryan, it is necessary to put pressure on Azerbaijan, otherwise that country will continue its way of working.
The members of the Azerbaijani delegation also made speeches, once again accused the Armenian side of pursuing an allegedly non-constructive policy, declared that Azerbaijan is ready for peace, called on Yerevan to sit at the negotiating table and sign the peace treaty.
