Azerbaijan: The United Nations will send a humanitarian mission to Nagorno-Karabakh for the first time in about 30 years. The mission is aimed at addressing humanitarian needs after Azerbaijan retook the territory, which led to a major refugee exodus.
“The government of Azerbaijan and the UN have agreed on a mission to the region. The mission will take place over the weekend,” UN spokesman Mr. Stephane Dujarric told reporters. The statement came after a request by Armenia to the World Court to order Azerbaijan to withdraw all its troops from civilian establishments in Nagorno-Karabakh.
In February 2022, the World Court, formally known as the International Court of Justice, ordered Azerbaijan to ensure free movement through the Lachin corridor to and from the disputed region, in an intermediate step to resolve the legal disputes with neighboring Armenia.
“We haven’t had access to it for about 30 years. very complicated and delicate geopolitical situation. So, it’s very important that we will be able to get in,” Mr. Dujarric noted, adding that the mission would do so by air from Azerbaijan.
According to the UN spokesman, a team of about a dozen people led by the UN’s humanitarian affairs department will assess the needs of people who have remained in the territory and those who are on the move.
“And of course, it bears reminding of the need for everyone to respect international law, especially international human rights law,” Mr. Dujarric further added.
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