Nathalie Broadhurst, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations made a speech at the session of the UN Security Council that started in New York.

“Restrictions and complete blockade of the corridor connecting Armenia with Karabakh for more than 8 months have already reached a humanitarian crisis. Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor continues to isolate the people of Nagorno-Karabakh from the rest of the world, without any legitimate reason to justify this situation, and it violates international and humanitarian principles. This situation, in addition to disruptions of gas and electricity supply, depletion of water resources, is now already reaching the situation of a humanitarian crisis. The risk of drought, the acute shortage of medicine is imminent. France condemns the blocking of humanitarian aid cargo, which the Armenian authorities sent to eliminate the consequences of this situation. The same applies to obstructing the activities of the ICRC.

Taking into account the severity of the humanitarian situation, France calls for the unconditional and immediate restoration of the unimpeded movement of goods and people in both directions and the provision of gas and electricity to the population.

The International Court of Justice issued an order in February 2023, according to which Azerbaijan must ensure the uninterrupted and unhindered movement of people, vehicles and goods through the Lachin Corridor. On 6 July, 2023, the Court noted that the situation between the parties is very dangerous.

Today, France calls on Azerbaijan to fulfill its international obligations. France will continue to support the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” she said.