EU concerned about humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

BRUSSELS. July 27 (Interfax) - The European Union is deeply concerned about the serious humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said.

"The movement through the Lachin corridor remains obstructed for more than seven months, despite orders by the International Court of Justice to reopen it. Medical supplies and essential goods are in short supply or have already run out, with dire consequences for the local population," Borrell said in a statement circulated in Brussels on Wednesday evening.

He called on Azerbaijan "to guarantee safety and freedom of movement along the Lachin corridor imminently and not to permit the crisis to escalate further."

"We took note of the expressed readiness of the Azerbaijani authorities to also supply goods via the city of Aghdam. This should not be seen as an alternative to the reopening of the Lachin corridor. The EU also notes that ICRC activities in the region have been heavily impacted and calls for their full resumption, including medical evacuations and humanitarian supplies," Borrell said in his statement.

No one should politicize humanitarian access, he said.

Borrell also emphasized the importance of "the genuine commitment of all sides to negotiated outcomes and a future built on common interests and mutual trust."