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The 30^th Annual Session of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) took place in Vancouver, Canada, where delegation of the National Assembly to the Assembly took part. At the Meeting of the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security delivered a speech:

“Dear Colleagues,

Today I want to speak about the role of OSCE PA in the strengthening of regional security. I think this organization is a part of a big international community and has to be attentive to the others' positions.

I hope you may know that the International Court of Justice issued a legally binding provisional measure against Azerbaijan and ordered to take all the necessary measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe just recently adopted the resolution and recommendation regarding “Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin Corridor.” The Assembly is extremely worried about the interruption of the free and safe passage through the Lachin Corridor and the subsequent deliberate cutting of electricity and gas supplies to the region.

It urgently called for addressing the issues of the rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh through dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert and a neutral international involvement in any peace implementation mechanism to be put in place.

The Assembly called on Azerbaijan to invite a Council of Europe delegation to visit the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh for a fact-finding mission, to assess the situation on the ground.

The European Parliament position, the most recent resolutions adopted by the European Parliament denounce the humanitarian consequences of the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, condemn the inaction of the Russian 'peacekeepers' and requesting their replacement by OSCE peacekeepers under UN mandate: The US Secretary of the State Department Blinken, expressed deep concern for the worsening humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting from the blockage of the Lachin Corridor.

President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of France Macron, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, all these European leaders mentioned that rights and security of people of Nagorno Karabakh should be addressed.

Surely, our Azerbaijani colleagues will try to deny all these statements. But It means that Azerbaijan denies the positions of the international community.

I hope that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will also address all these issues with concrete statements.

Thank you, Lilit Minasyan said.