US State Secretary Antony Blinken in his phone conversation with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on September 26 has stressed the need to provide unhindered humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh, a readout made public by the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says.
Secretary Blinken called on President Aliyev to provide assurances to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh of security and protext of the rights, urging the Azerbaijani president to commit to “broad amnesty and allow an international observer mission” into Nagorno-Karabakh, the readout says.
Later in the day Miller also spoke on the phone call at a briefing. The US State Department spokesperson said that Azerbaijani president “would accept an observer mission” and that the US Administration would “expect him to abide by that”.
Miller said that the exact mechanism for international monitors in the region is yet to be discussed with the US “allies and partners in the region”.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also urged the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure free access to the people of Artsakh. “Our thoughts are with the victims of yesterday’s tragic gas explosion in Stepanakert/Khankendi and their loved ones. There is an urgent need for unimpeded international humanitarian access to Nagorno Karabakh. EU announced additional assistance and ready to do more,” Borrell said on X (formerly Twitter).
The North Macedonian Chairmanship of the OSCE expressed similar opinion. “We mourn the tragic loss of life in Stepanakert/Khankendi yesterday following an explosion at a fuel depot. We call for unhindered humanitarian access so critical medical aid can be given to those still fighting for their lives. Humanitarian concerns must prevail,” the North Macedonian OSCE Chairmanship said on X.
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