Warnings from the Armenian Side Fail to Result in Effective Action, Mirzoyan Tells Diplomats

On October 2, a meeting was held at the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia and representatives of international organizations. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. The meeting was coordinated by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, with participation and speeches made by Deputy Prime Ministers Tigran Khachatryan and Mher Grigoryan.

Minister Mirzoyan presented the situation created by Azerbaijan's ongoing anti-Armenian policies against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly following the large-scale military assault unleashed on September 19. The minister recalled that Azerbaijan's actions have been accompanied by targeting the civilian population and infrastructure, resulting in hundreds of casualties and injuries. He added that the Azerbaijani aggression was preceded by the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only route connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the wider world, for over nine months.

The Armenian Foreign Minister emphasized that the continuous alerts from the Armenian side indicating Azerbaijan's deliberate actions aimed at subjecting Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing did not lead to effective steps from the international community to prevent Baku's policies. The Foreign Minister stressed that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, over 100,000 Armenians, have been subjected to forced displacement, perceiving an existential threat to themselves and their family members, including children, women, and the elderly.

Addressing the arrival of the UN mission in Nagorno-Karabakh the day before, the minister highlighted its tardiness and the unfortunate fact that at this point, the only result of this mission may be the documentation of the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Referring to the readiness of various countries and international organizations to provide assistance in overcoming the humanitarian challenges, Ararat Mirzoyan expressed gratitude for the urgent support provided.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, who coordinates the work of the humanitarian center, presented to the meeting participants the actions taken by the Armenian government aimed at identifying and addressing the primary issues of more than 100,000 Armenians forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. The Deputy Prime Minister addressed the state support programs developed based on the assessment of urgent needs, while also emphasizing the importance of conducting comprehensive needs assessments, including in cooperation with international partners, which will allow for the development of targeted long-term support programs.

Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan mentioned the ongoing work towards mid-term and long-term programs aimed at addressing the primary needs of Armenians forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. The Deputy Prime Minister prioritized the issue of providing housing for the forcibly displaced, as well as highlighting the importance of offering them employment, educational, healthcare, and social services.