The United States and European Union on Wednesday (12 July) called on Azerbaijan to reopen its checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor one day after Baku closed the checkpoint in response to alleged "smuggling" from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.
You can read more about the closure of the border checkpoint on Tuesday here.
The U.S. Embassy in the Armenian capital Yerevan said in a statement to RFE/RL's Armenian Service that they were "the United States is deeply concerned about Azerbaijan's continued closure of the Lachin corridor", adding that "yesterday’s halting of humanitarian traffic exacerbates a worsening humanitarian situation and undermines efforts to establish confidence in the peace process. Free and open transit through the Lachin corridor must be restored immediately".
Meanwhile, the EU’s foreign policy spokeswoman, Nabila Massrali, similarly urged Azerbaijan to "ensure that ICRC can continue its operations and prevent a potential humanitarian crisis" in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"The EU strongly supports the crucial role of the ICRC in the region, and reiterates its call for Azerbaijan to ensure the unrestricted movement of people and goods via the Lachin corridor," said Massrali.
source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: RFE/RL