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The Armenian Foreign Ministry has welcomed the World Court ruling telling Azerbaijan to unblock the Lachin Corridor, the only road between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) blocked since December 12. Below is the full text of a statement released by the ministry on Wednesday.

"We welcome the decisions of the International Court of Justice of February 22  on the requests for provisional measures made by Armenia and Azerbaijan under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

The Court has issued a legally binding order against Azerbaijan in the proceedings brought by Armenia against it, while categorically rejecting Azerbaijan’s requests made in the parallel proceedings Azerbaijan brought against Armenia. In the mentioned order, the Court has found that there is an imminent risk of irreparable harm to Armenians’ rights under the CERD, and ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.

In stark contrast, the Court by a unanimous vote completely rejected Azerbaijan’s request for provisional measures concerning fake allegations of landmine laying by Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories.

Thus, in accordance with the Court’s orders, Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and other actions must now come to an immediate end. Armenia will closely monitor the situation and inform the Court of any violations as Armenia’s case against Azerbaijan proceeds.

We call on international partners to take efficient steps to ensure the immediate implementation of the Court's decision by Azerbaijan."