Paylan of HDP to the Government: What are you doing for the opening of the Lachin Corridor?

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People's Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan brought up the blocking of the Lachin corridor in the parliament in Ankara and directed a parliamentary question to Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu.

Paylan stated in the parliamentary question that the Lachin corridor was kept closed now for more than a month by a group from Azerbaijan describing themselves as "environment activists" and the Azerbaijan security forces.

Paylan said in the question, "Due to the closing of the Lachin corridor, a food and medicine crisis is growing in Nagorno-Karabakh every day."

There is a great humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh where 120 thousand people leave due to the blackouts in electricity and gas.

"This is closing the window of opportunity for peace"

Paylan directed Minister Çavuşoğlu the following questions:

* What are you doing for the solution to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh?

* Which diplomatic initiatives have you taken for the opening of the Lachin Corridor linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia?

* Are you aware that the blockage at the Lachin Corridor is closing the window of opportunity for peace in the region?

* Why isn't Türkiye, boasting of intervening in many humanitarian crises in the world, not batting an eyelid for the 120 thousand Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh under blockage?

What happened?

Lachin Corridor which is the only route connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia is being blocked for one month by a group of civilian Azerbaijan groups, since December 12, 2022.

Armenia Foreign Ministry said, in a statement dated January 5, "Armenia Foreign Ministry draws the attention of all parties on the international level and all progressive forces of humanity to the reality that Azerbeycan is violating the regime identified with the tripartite November 9, 2020, Declaration and is blocking the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

"The humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh is worsening each day. The lack of basic requirements, such as food and medicine is becoming more and more serious. The threat of insufficient food has become apparent.

"Hundreds of families living at different sides of the blockage continue being separated. 120 thousand people are in de-facto prison.

Azerbaijan President İlham Aliyev has on the other hand stated on January 10 that "the protest by members of non-governmental organizations and activists from Azerbaijan requesting that illegal operation of the mines on Azerbaijan land should be stopped is a legitimate action."

Stating that the vehicles belonging to the Russian forces are able to use the corridor and that the goods necessary for Armenian citizens were being carried by these vehicles Aliyev said, "It is not just to name the events on the Lachin road as a blockage."

Aliyev also said, "The conditions will be created for those who want to live there under the Azerbaijan flag. Their rights and security will be secured, such as the other Azerbaijan citizens. However, those who do not want to accept being our citizens can go. Nobody is going to prevent them." (SD/PE)