The U.S. Department of State announced that Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to urge an immediate reopening of the Lachin corridor to commercial traffic. He underscored that the risk of a humanitarian crisis in the Lachin corridor undermined prospects for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Secretary encouraged President Aliyev to redouble efforts in bilateral peace discussions with Armenia. He also raised human rights concerns in Azerbaijan.
The Office of Azerbaijan's President confirmed the call with the following statement:
On January 23, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a phone call to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
During the conversation, the U.S. Secretary of State expressed concern over the situation on the Lachin corridor in the territory of Azerbaijan. Antony Blinken reiterated the U.S.’s commitment to normalization of the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and support for the peace treaty talks.
President Ilham Aliyev stated that there was no blockade of the Lachin-Khankendi road, adding that some 980 vehicles have passed through this road since December 12, 2022, of which over 850 belonged to the Russian peacekeepers and over 120 to the International Committee of the Red Cross. At the same time, the President of Azerbaijan underlined that about 90 sick persons and those in need of medical assistance had been taken to Armenia by the International Committee of the Red Cross. According to President Ilham Aliyev, these facts demonstrate that Azerbaijan did not close the Lachin-Khankendi road.
The Head of State underlined that illegal operations at the mining sites in Azerbaijan’s territories where the Russian peacekeepers had been temporarily deployed must be stopped with permanent conditions to be created for the monitoring by Azerbaijan. The President of Azerbaijan drew Antony Blinken’s attention to Armenia’s using the Lachin road for the illegal shipment of mines made in 2021.
President Ilham Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to the peace process and normalization of relations with Armenia. The Head of State underlined that the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal must include only the normalization of bilateral relations based on norms and principles of international law and five principles proposed by Azerbaijan.
President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan would ensure the rights and security of the Armenian civilian population living in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh economic zone under the constitution and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the telephone conversation.
