Lachin Corridor: A test of wills

Vahe H Apelian

Soon after being elected as the new president of the Republic of Artsakh, Samvel Shahramanyan, the government of Artsakh issued the following communique.: “The Government of the Russian Federation took an initiative to provide humanitarian aid to the Republic of Artsakh, taking into account the humanitarian crisis created in our republic. The aid, which contains vital products of Russian production, was sent to Artsakh the other day by the Russian Red Cross, in the vehicles of that organization.

The authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, based on the need to alleviate the acute humanitarian problems caused by the complete blockade implemented by Azerbaijan, have decided to allow the entry of Russian goods into our republic through the city of Askeran. At the same time, an agreement was reached, according to which humanitarian cargo transportation by Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross will be restored through the Lachin Corridor.”

The announcement seemed to indicate that a compromise had been reached between Russian Federation and the Azerbaijan-Turkish alliance. I say Azerbaijan-Turkish alliance because it is this alliance that is shaping the status of Caucasus even though Azerbaijan remains the front.  It did not take long for the Russian Federation to face the reality that it had overstepped its presence in the Caucasus for there appears there has not been such an agreement or if there was one, Baku has reneged it insisting that the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Republic of Artsakh should come through Aghdam and not through Askeran.

During his inaugural address to the Artsakh National Assembly, the newly elected president Samvel Shahramanyan said the following regarding the status of  Artsakh and its land lifelines.

1.      The Artsakh conflict is not settled, as Azerbaijan claims, therefore Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed territory that should receive a certain status. (Արցախյան հակամարտությունը կարգավորված չէ, ինչպես պնդում է Ադրբեջանը, հետևաբար Լեռնային Ղարաբաղը հանդիսանում է վիճելի տարածք, որը պետք է ստանա որոշակի կարգավիճակ,)

2.      Artsakh and Armenia should have a direct transport connection, the Lachin Corridor. Contrary to Baku's claims, the latter has been closed for a long time and should be opened. Other regional roads should also be launched, but they cannot replace the Lachine Corridor or be seen as an alternative to it. (Արցախն ու Հայաստանը պետք է ունենան ուղիղ տրանսպորտային հաղորդակցություն՝ Լաչինի միջանցք։ Վերջինս ի հակառակ Բաքվի պնդումների՝ արդեն տևական ժամանակ է փակ է և պետք է բացվի։ Պետք է գործարկվեն նաև տարածաշրջանային այլ ճանապարհներ ևս, սական դրանք չեն կարող փոխարինել Լաչինի միջանցքին, կամ դիտվել դրան այլընտրանք,)

3.      Stepanakert should negotiate with Baku. Moreover, in this matter, both the Russian Federation and the collective West are ready to provide a platform and act as a mediator, which Azerbaijan is categorically against. (Ստեփանակերտը պետք է բանակցի Բաքվի հետ։ Ընդ որում, այս հարցում, թե ՌԴ-ն և թե հավաքական արևմուտքը պատրաստ են տրամադրել հարթակ և հանդես գալ միջնորդի դերում, ինչին կտրականապես դեմ է Ադրբեջանը:)

I believe the Russians are experiencing a taste of their own medicine. I imagine they are realizing that their tilt towards Azerbaijan is at Azerbaijan’s pleasure to accept. It does not surprise me that Russia was the main reason that the Arayik Harutyunyan resigned and his resignation was going to be rewarded with Russia delivering the humanitarian aid, without realizing that for Azerbaijan, humanitarian aid coming to Artsakh will be Azerbaijan’s call not Russia’s. Consequently sticking to its stand, Azerbaijan categorically refused Russia’s humanitarian aid through Askeran insisting that the humanitarian delivery should go through Aghdam. Russia has accommodated Azerbaijan and has not challenged it. The newly elected government of Artsakh has refused to accept humanitarian aid coming from Aghdam, even though it may be sponsored by Russia and not by Azerbaijan.

The humanitarian aid delivery for now is at a standstill. I imagine that Russians are licking their wounded pride, while the brave people of Artsakh face famine.