10 March 2023 12:36

The letter addressed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov to the UN Secretary-General on 27 February regarding the decision of the International Court of Justice dated 22 February 2023 in the court cases concerning the application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was circulated as a document of the Security Council and the General Assembly.

The letter comments on the decisions of the International Court of Justice and firmly exposes Armenia’s violations of the previous order.

The letter notes with emphasis the fact that the Court rejected Armenia’s two main claims that the protest actions held by a group of Azerbaijani eco-activists on the Khankendi-Lachin road were allegedly “organized by the Government of Azerbaijan” and that “Azerbaijan obstructed the supply of natural gas and other utilities (such as electricity and internet).”

Regarding the groundless claim that the International Court of Justice allegedly granted Armenia’s request, the letter emphasizes that the Court’s provisional requirement is not the same as Armenia’s request, and that the Court’s conclusion is that Azerbaijan must only “take all measures at its disposal” on the Lachin road, rather than “ensure uninterrupted movement...”. At the same time, the Court did not accept Armenia’s claim that movement along the road should be “free” and ensured for “all” persons, cargo and vehicles. Thus, Azerbaijan’s position that movement along the Lachin road without any control is unacceptable was indirectly taken into account in the Court’s decision.

This decision once again proved that the Government of Azerbaijan bears no responsibility for the protest action of civil society representatives on the Lachin road and cannot be compelled to prevent their legitimate right to protest. At the same time, by modifying Armenia’s demand for “free use” of the road, the Court in fact affirmed its opposition against the abuse of the Lachin road for military and economic purposes.

The letter duly documents clear cases of abuse of the Lachin road and emphasizes that Azerbaijan guarantees the security of the use of the road within its powers, and that neither the Government of Azerbaijan nor the protesters obstruct movement on the road. The letter also provides information on the passage of vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Russian peacekeeping contingent, and states that the use of the road by more than 3,000 vehicles proves that claims regarding “blockade” and a “tense humanitarian” situation are groundless.

The letter particularly emphasizes that the use of the Lachin road must be legal and transparent, that cases of abuse of the road must not be allowed, and, as part of these efforts, the proposal to establish a border-control checkpoint at the beginning of the Lachin road. It is underscored that Armenia’s refusal of this proposal without providing any grounds is an indication that Armenia is not interested in transparency on the Lachin road and intends to continue cases of abuse.

In the letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan addressed to the UN Secretary-General, it is recalled that Armenia still has not implemented the decision of the International Court of Justice dated 7 December 2021. Thus, the letter notes that Armenia, contrary to the Court’s decision, has not prevented the instilling of ethnic hatred and discrimination against Azerbaijan on its territory and has not dissolved paramilitary groups such as VoMA and POGA.