US Ambassador to the UN Encourages Azerbaijan to Reopen the 'Lachin Corridor'

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, expressed her 'serious concern' regarding the 'humanitarian situation' in Nagorno-Karabakh during her speech on Wednesday. She urged Azerbaijan to reopen the 'Lachin Corridor' and facilitate humanitarian access, expressing dissatisfaction with its closure. According to a statement from the US Mission to the UN, Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogues for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. She stressed the need for creative and flexible efforts from all parties involved, stating that a 'peace treaty' must protect the rights and security of individuals in Nagorno-Karabakh. The US Ambassador called for immediate restraint and adherence to international and humanitarian laws, advocating for 'diplomatic engagement' to facilitate dialogue and achieve 'sustainable peace.' The statement noted that the United States remains committed to building a prosperous future for the countries in the Caucasus region through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. On August 2, 2023, Voice of America reported that leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, despite their disagreements over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, hope to reach a 'sustainable peace' agreement. According to Reuters, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, stated in an interview with Euronews, 'If we see a constructive approach from Armenia, and most importantly, if they completely abandon all their aspirations to challenge our territorial integrity, we can find a peace solution soon, even by the end of the year.' Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also spoke in Yerevan with a 'cautious and hopeful' tone. Reuters reported that the Armenian Prime Minister, in a separate interview, said, 'Peace is not only possible but necessary. This is my belief, but to achieve this goal, it is important for the international community to be aware of the details and why this process is not progressing quickly enough.' The expressed hopes of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia for resolving disputes over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, deep concerns from Blinken about the conditions of the people in Karabakh; American lawmakers issued a statement. Baku rejected Armenia's request to guarantee the rights of Armenians. Pashinyan stated that Armenia 'conditionally' considers Nagorno-Karabakh part of Azerbaijan. The European Union welcomed the latest round of negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Armenia reported that Azerbaijan has besieged villages in Karabakh. The Republic of Azerbaijan provoked anger in Yerevan by establishing a checkpoint on the Lachin road.