EP Rapporteurs condemn construction of road between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan called the decision to build a highway between the southern regions of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh a violation of international law.

The Azerbaijani MFA claims that the construction of the third highway between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh serves "to continue the illegal settlement, plunder, exploitation of natural resources" and "intentional change of the demographic situation" in the areas considered by Azerbaijan as its occupied territories.

"Illegal actions of Armenia contradict its international obligations, and they are also a gross violation of the norms and rules of international law," the Azerbaijani MFA declared in its statement issued on June 11 as translated from the Azerbaijani language by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The decision to construct the highway on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh was to be made with the consent of the competent authorities of Azerbaijan, the Rapporteurs of the European Parliament on Azerbaijan, Armenia, and on cooperation with the countries of Southern Caucasus stated. Željana Zovko (Croatia), Traian Băsescu (Romania), and Marina Kaljurand (Estonia) noted the decision to build the highway was made in violation of international law. "It could symbolically entrench the illegal occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and of its surrounding districts," the statement said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 12, 2020 at 02:49 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.