Rasmussen Global founder Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrives today in Yerevan for a two-day visit to Armenia. During the trip, he will meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other leading public officials. The former NATO Secretary General will also meet with figures from civil society and visit the Armenian regions most affected by the ongoing incursions by neighbouring Azerbaijan.
The visit aims to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis caused by the blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, and the outside world.
Speaking ahead of the visit to Armenia, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said:
“Europe cannot close its eyes to a humanitarian crisis happening on our doorstep. The ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijani actors is putting thousands of lives at risk. Since December, no civilian or commercial traffic has been able to reach Nagorno-Karabakh. This has left some 120,000 ethnic Armenian residents without access to essential goods and services, including life-saving medication and health care. Ongoing attacks on civil infrastructure, including gas an electricity supply, have also created far-reaching impacts on the economy, education and healthcare.”
“Unless Europe and the wider international community act, these risks becoming a humanitarian catastrophe. The EU must use its relationship with Azerbaijan, to push them to lift the blockade and fulfil their broader international commitments.
“I am also in Yerevan to show my support for Armenia’s burgeoning democracy. Since 2018, Armenia has made important steps forward. In a period when democratic rights have slipped globally, Armenia is the welcome exception. We must strengthen the relationship between the EU and Armenia, to secure peace in the region and support the Armenian people’s desire for a future based on stability, freedom, and democracy.”
For media requests during the visit, please contact Rasmussen Global Communications Director Tim Allan at tal@rasmussenglobal.com