ANC-AU STATEMENT
ARTSAKH: AUSTRALIA CAN DO MORE. AUSTRALIA MUST DO MORE.
On Wednesday, 20th September 2023, three years since Azerbaijan’s belligerent unprovoked 44 days of war crimes against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), our community, once again, woke to harrowing images and disturbing videos of Artsakh’s civilian population and infrastructure under relentless military attack.
After nine months of enduring starvation and isolation cut off from the outside world, Azerbaijan launched a ruthless assault on Artsakh, resulting in the death of over 20 civilians, leaving hundreds severely injured and forcing a mass exodus of Artsakh’s Armenians from villages occupied by Azerbaijani forces following the indiscriminate bombardment of Stepanakert and villages and cities across Artsakh.
To avoid further bloodshed, Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian authorities have agreed to cease-fire negotiations whilst intermittent skirmishes continue in the cities surrounding Stepanakert.
For three years, the people of Artsakh heroically resisted against the genocidal policies of Azerbaijan with honour. In the face of unimaginable adversity - on the brink of starvation and isolation from the world, the people of Artsakh, inheriting the spirit of Sardarabad, fought for the right to live on their holy land in a free, democratic Armenian state.
Whilst the international community has abandoned the people of Artsakh, including forces within the Republic of Armenia, we are beyond certain that the fate of Artsakh cannot be left in the hands of a genocidal regime like Azerbaijan.
Therefore, it is the role of Australia and our global partners to immediately implement the following seven urgent actions:
- Secure a United Nations Mandate in Nagorno-Karabakh (UNMINK) consisting of an international peacekeeping contingent to ensure the rights and security of the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh;
- The immediate re-opening of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor, in adherence to the February 22, 2023 order by the International Court of Justice to ensure the unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo from and to Nagorno Karabakh, secured by the UN peacekeeping contingent;
- The immediate withdrawal of the Azerbaijani forces to the November 2020 cease-fire agreement borders;
- The immediate return of the Armenian civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh who have been displaced by Azerbaijan’s attempted ethnic cleansing;
- The urgent delivery of humanitarian, development and reconstruction aid through the Lachin corridor to alleviate the humanitarian crisis endured as a result of the blockade and recent military aggression;
- The protection of Armenian cultural and religious monuments that have fallen under the control of Azerbaijani forces;
- Hold Azerbaijan accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal actions since the 2020 Artsakh War and until this day, including sanctions against the authoritarian regime and its leaders.
Our community’s pressure - the calls, the emails, the tweets standing with our compatriots 14,000km away yielded a response from Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator the Hon. Penny Won, less than 24 hours into Azerbaijan’s devastating assault on Artsakh.
Nonetheless, our work continues. As Azerbaijan continues to impose its will on the free, independent Christian Armenians of Artsakh, Australia can do more. Australia must do more.
