Thursday, March 23 2023 23:00

ArmInfo.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands summoned the Azerbaijani  ambassador to the country to remind him of the need to comply with  the decision of the International Court of Justice and unblock the  Berdzor (Lachin) corridor. This was reported by the Federation of  Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands (FAON).

Thus according to the source, the Federation of Armenian  Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) has taken note of the answers  by Dutch Foreign Minister Wobke Hoekstra to the written questions of  13 parliamentary factions about the ICJ ruling of 22 February 2022 on  blockade of Lachin Corridor (Armenia v.  Azerbaijan). Minister  Hoekstra agrees with the MP's, that there is non-compliance by  Azerbaijan with the Judgement of the ICJ on the blockade of the  Lachin Corridor. According to the Court ruling, Azerbaijan must take  all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons,  vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions,  which it keeps blockaded for more than 100 days. In his letter to the  Parliament, the Minister underlines that the International Court  rulings are legally binding. Therefore, the Netherlands publicly  called on the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with the ruling. 

According to the Minister, the Netherlands has repeatedly raised its  concerns about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh  resulting from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, at several  occasions including in bilateral talks with the Azerbaijani  authorities, iso as in the recent meeting between the Dutch Prime  Minister Rutte and Azerbaijani President Aliyev. The Minister  Hoekstra has conveyed these concerns in several conversations with  the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister. The Netherlands has also expressed  these concerns in various multilateral forums, such as the EU Foreign  Affairs Council and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of  Europe. The Netherlands, together with the other EU member states,  has also conveyed this position by means of EU statements to, for  example, the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and  Stability in Europe (OSCE). The Minister also states that the  restrictive interpretation of the Court ruling by Azerbaijan is not  shared by the Dutch Government. The Minister Hoekstra underlined that  the Court ruling must be complied with in their entirety, which means  that Azerbaijan must ensure the free movement of people, vehicles and  cargo through the Lachin Corridor in both directions.

It should be recalled that on February 22, the International Court of  Justice ruled in a lawsuit filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan that  Azerbaijan is obliged, in accordance with its obligations under the  Convention, to take all measures in its power to ensure the  unhindered movement of people, vehicles and cargo along the Berdzor  (Lachin) corridor in both directions.  "The judge noted that the  court notices that since December 12, 2022, the connection between  Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia through the Lachin Corridor has been  disrupted. The Court notes that a number of consequences have arisen  as a result of this situation, and that those who bear the  consequences continue to suffer these effects to this day. According  to the information, the import of vital goods to Nagorno-Karabakh was  also hindered, as a result of which there is a shortage of food,  medicine and other life-saving supplies. The Court considers that the  damage can be considered irreparable when the relevant persons find  themselves in life- and health- threatening circumstances. As for the disruption of gas supplies, Armenia did not provide  sufficient evidence related to the problem of gas supply that  Azerbaijan creates obstacles," the Court's decision noted.

At the same time, the Court by a unanimous vote completely rejected  Azerbaijan's request for provisional measures concerning fake  allegations of landmine laying by Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and  surrounding territories.