On February 7th, Ambassador of Armenia to the United Kingdom Varuzhan Nersesyan held a meeting with Minister Leo Docherty MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Europe), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Yerevan’s Embassy in London says.

Nersesyan briefed Docherty on the severe humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor. In this context, the Ambassador stressed the need for concrete steps to be taken by the international community aimed at restoring unimpeded traffic along the Lachin corridor.

The interlocutors also discussed the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Ambassador emphasised the harmful impact of Azerbaijan’s maximalist approach, which continues to undermine these efforts.

Ambassador Nersesyan and Minister Docherty underlined the importance of close cooperation between Armenia and the UK on both bilateral and multilateral platforms. In this regard, the significance of mutual high-level visits was highlighted.

Ambassador Nersesyan also underscored the importance of the prospective signing of the CEPA agreement between Armenia and the UK which will lay the groundwork strengthening bilateral relation in different fields of mutual interest.

During the meeting, a number of issues relating to regional and international security were also discussed.

Since December 12, the sole road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia - the Lachin Corridor - has been blocked by self-described Azerbaijani environmentalists. Karabakh residents have reported food and fuel shortages, while hospital patients don't have access to essential medicines, with only a handful allowed transfer to facilities in Armenia proper.