Your trusted source

Against the backdrop of the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Turkey announced its decision to lift the ban on direct cargo flights with Armenia on 6 January.

Panorama.am submitted an inquiry to Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to find out whether the Armenian Foreign Ministry considers it expedient to reject air cargo transport with Turkey given that the country’s leadership not only refuses to condemn the Artsakh blockade by Azerbaijan, but also makes statements in support of Baku.

We also sought to reveal what measures the Armenian authorities are taking to provide at least an air communication with the Artsakh Republic, including though Turkey’s mediation.

Panorama.am received the following response from the press office of the Armenian Foreign Ministry: "In response to your inquiry, we would like to inform you that since the onset of the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, the relevant departments of the Armenian Foreign Ministry have been in constant communication with various international institutions to address the problems caused by the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, we would like to tell you that on 6 January 2023 Turkey lifted the ban on direct flights with Armenia in accordance with the agreements reached during the meeting of special envoys on 1 July 2022"․

The response makes it clear that the Foreign Ministry has not answered the main question, in particular, whether Armenia plans to reject air cargo transportation with Turkey so long as the latter does not “call for” Azerbaijan to reopen the Lachin corridor.

At first glance, it may seem that making such a decision is not within the competence of the Foreign Ministry, however as an agency in charge of foreign affairs, it should at least have been informed about the Armenian side's intention to take such a step or not. Consequently, we are left to assume that Armenia failed to use this tool of indirect influence on Azerbaijan in its efforts to end the Artsakh blockade.