Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement after Azerbaijan launched a new operation against Nagorno-Karabakh:
“Conservatives are deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh because of escalating action by Azerbaijan’s government. The Government of Canada must support the liberty of the people who reside in Nagorno-Karabakh and their right to self-determination.
“Since last year, Azerbaijan has been blockading the only road into the region, despite the International Court of Justice ordering the blockade be removed. As a result, the Red Cross has been prevented from going into the region, and 120,000 ethnic Armenians are at risk of starving to death. Starvation is being used as a silent weapon to ethnically cleanse the region. A century after the Armenian genocide, the world cannot silently stand by.
“It’s clear that there is no military solution to this conflict, and we urge an end to this escalation. We continue to call for adherence to the historical ceasefire, as well as the protection of the civilians of this region who have once again come under attack.
“We also renew our call on Azerbaijan to end its blockade of the Lachin corridor in order for humanitarian aid to reach Nagorno-Karabakh. This aid is needed now more than ever, and the safety and security of humanitarian aid agencies must be guaranteed by Azerbaijan.
“Finally, it is now totally clear that Russia’s peacekeeping guarantees were nothing but empty promises. “Canada’s Conservatives will remain engaged on this issue and emphasize that dialogue, rather than unilateral military actions, is the way towards a lasting peace for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.”