Aliyev’s Spokesperson Continues to Accuse Armenia and Artsakh for Lachin Corridor Closure
Headline: Aliyev’s Aide Again Blames Armenia and Artsakh for the Lachin Corridor being Closed
On March 8, 2023, Hikmet Hajiyev, an aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, again blamed Armenia and Artsakh for the Lachin Corridor being closed. The Lachin Corridor is a strategic road that connects Armenia to Artsakh. It was closed by Azerbaijan in November 2020, following the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
In a statement, Hajiyev said that Armenia and Artsakh are “trying to prevent the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia” by keeping the Lachin Corridor closed. He also said that Armenia and Artsakh are “trying to create obstacles to the return of Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees to their homes.”
Hajiyev’s statement was met with criticism from Armenian and Artsakh officials. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that Hajiyev’s statement was “another attempt to distort the truth and shift the blame.” He also said that Armenia and Artsakh are “ready to open the Lachin Corridor as soon as possible,” but that Azerbaijan is “not interested in normalization.”
Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan said that Hajiyev’s statement was “a provocation” and that it “shows that Azerbaijan is not interested in peace.” He also said that Artsakh is “ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor,” but that Azerbaijan must first withdraw its troops from the corridor and guarantee the security of the people of Artsakh.
The Lachin Corridor is a 43-kilometer-long road that connects Armenia to Artsakh. It is a strategically important road, as it is the only road that connects Artsakh to the outside world. The corridor was closed by Azerbaijan in November 2020, following the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
Azerbaijan has said that it will not reopen the Lachin Corridor until Armenia withdraws its troops from the surrounding areas. Armenia has said that it is willing to withdraw its troops, but that it needs guarantees from Azerbaijan that the corridor will be open and secure.
The issue of the Lachin Corridor has been a major obstacle to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The two countries have held several rounds of talks, but they have not been able to reach an agreement on the issue.
The closure of the Lachin Corridor is a serious problem that needs to be resolved. The corridor is essential for the people of Artsakh, and its closure is causing them a great deal of hardship. Armenia and Azerbaijan need to find a way to reopen the corridor, and they need to do so as soon as possible.
The international community should urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a way to reopen the Lachin Corridor. The corridor is essential for the people of Artsakh, and its closure is causing them a great deal of hardship. Armenia and Azerbaijan need to put aside their differences and work together to find a solution.