Leaders of Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical Churches of North America Hold Meeting with Director of U.S State Department’s Office of Caucasus Affairs Mike Cameron
On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, leaders of Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical Churches of North America held a meeting with Director of U.S State Department’s Office of Caucasus Affairs Mike Cameron to express their concerns regarding the grave humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in Artsakh due to the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America spoke on behalf of the religious leaders during the Zoom meeting with Honorable Director Cameron, Director of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts (Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs) and Mr. Brian Mattys, Foreign Service Officer at the US State Department.
The coordinator of the meeting was Mr. Raffi Kendirjian, who referenced the humanitarian crisis that has resulted due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor, Armenia’s sole route leading into Artsakh.
“The humanitarian disaster affects all aspects of life in Artsakh, from food and healthcare to agriculture and education. Human lives are at risk, from newborn babies to elderly chronic patients, due to the direct and indirect impacts of the blockade,” stated Mr. Kendirjian. He also referred to the severe food shortage that has resulted in the economic collapse of Artsakh. “Since approximately 90% of the food consumed in Artsakh was previously imported from Armenia, a severe food shortage has emerged. Over the past 40 days, not a single kilogram of food has entered Artsakh, and the limited local production has been greatly hindered by the lack of fuel and other essential materials. Economic enterprises, which were partially operational during the blockade, have also come to a halt. Public transport has almost entirely ceased, and essential services, including healthcare, are struggling to function,” he concluded.
Diocesan Primate, Archbishop Derderian, also addressed Director Cameron thanking him for being generous with his time and for taking numerous questions from the participants on the call. Archbishop Derderian thanked the efforts taken so far by the United States State Department in promoting and facilitating peace in the Caucasus region and requested additional and immediate efforts to open the Lachin corridor to enable to the entry of basic humanitarian supplies into Artsakh and to resolve the conflict. “As a Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States has a mediating role in the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the United States has extensive experience and capacity for promoting solutions of international conflicts and other crises,” stated Archbishop Derderian.
The Diocesan Primate also highlighted the significance and vitality of the freedom and security of Artsakh for long-term stability in the South Caucasus. “The United States has proclaimed commitment to global protection of democracy and fundamental human rights. The freedom and security of Artsakh are issues of grave concern for millions of your compatriots of Armenian descent living in the United States. We are therefore hopeful that the US State Department will take the necessary and appropriate action to resolve this humanitarian crisis.” he concluded.
In a question-and-answer session, a number of clergy posed questions to the State Department officials pertaining to the prompt and peaceful resolution of the Lachin corridor blockade. Attorney and activist, Lenna Hovannessian, Esq., also took part in the meeting and voiced her concern regarding the critical situation that has ensued.
Having heard the concerns of the participants, Director Cameron thanked the clergy for their input and assured them that the matter will be relayed and brought to the attention of State Secretary Anthony Blinken.
