(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Fatima Hasanova read more On December 22, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met
with Dragana Kojic, Head of the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) Office in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports citing the
Foreign Ministry.
The parties discussed issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan
and the ICRC, work done in the region following the Karabakh
conflict, and the latest situation on the Lachin road.
Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the significance of the ICRC's
activities in Azerbaijan. He also provided an update on the
peaceful protests against the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijan's
natural resources in the area of Russian peacekeepers' temporary
deployment on the Lachin road. Furthermore, the minister discussed
the misuse of the Lachin road for transporting Armenia-made
landmines.
The Azerbaijani minister emphasized that there is no evidence to
support claims that Azerbaijan blocked the Lachin road, used a
'blockade' against Armenian residents, or was about to unleash a
'humanitarian catastrophe'. Along this road, the ICRC vehicles
travel frequently as well. He stated that the road is open for
travel by civilians, vehicles, and goods and that Azerbaijan is
prepared to offer all necessary assistance to the local population
directly through the ICRC.
Meanwhile, Bayramov emphasized that great care needed to be
taken to prevent people posing as local Armenians from obstructing
traffic and attempting to portray the situation as a 'humanitarian
catastrophe' by preventing people from using the road.
The officials also discussed other topics of shared
interest.
The ICRC, a private humanitarian institution, was founded in
1863 in Geneva, Switzerland. Its 25-member committee has a unique
authority under international humanitarian law to protect the life
and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed
conflicts.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an
international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million
volunteers, members, and staff worldwide, which was founded to
protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human
beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
The National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies exist in
nearly every country in the world. Currently, 192 National
Societies are recognized by the ICRC and admitted as full members
of the federation. Each entity works in its home country according
to the principles of international humanitarian law and the
statutes of the international movement.
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Tags: azerbaijan committee of the red cross (icrc) ministry of foreign affairs of azerbaijan jeyhun bayramov