Simple rules for those willing to send humanitarian cargo to Garabagh Dura lex, sed lex

The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society sent 40 tons of food from Baku to Khankandi on August 29 morning. Baku hoped that this step would be positively perceived by the Armenians living in the zone temporarily controlled by the Russian peacekeepers as well as by the international community. However, for several days, the cargo is at the entrance to the zone temporarily controlled by the Russian peacekeepers as "starving" Garabagh Armenians refuse to accept it. Both Armenians in Khankandi and Yerevan continue to repeat like a mantra that they are ready to accept all cargoes only through Lachin.

Baku has repeatedly emphasised that it is possible to use the Lachin road for the transportation of any cargo only after a direct dialogue with the Garabagh Armenians and a number of necessary technical measures. Of course, this road should be used in accordance with the rules of border and customs control in accordance with the Azerbaijani legislation. This requirement is natural.

Armenia violated Azerbaijan’s customs rules for almost 30 years, applying customs duties on goods imported to Garabagh and causing big damage to the Azerbaijani state budget. However, Armenia and other countries, suffering due to 120,000 “starving” Armenians, should remember that the period when Armenia derived illegal income from goods imported to Garabagh along the Lachin road has ended.

It is clear that the Lachin customs checkpoint, created on April 23, 2023, will operate according to the same rules as the rest customs checkpoints in Azerbaijan. Customs documents will be formalised in accordance with Azerbaijani laws. The use of non-existent toponyms in the documentation is absolutely unacceptable.

For example, if there are such words as "Stepanakert" or "Artsakh" in the documents, then, of course, these goods will not be transported into Azerbaijan until the corresponding changes are made to the documents. Once and for all, neighbouring countries and their patrons should memorise the names of all Azerbaijani settlements where they are trying to send any cargo.

There will be no exceptions for anyone.

These are not all customs procedures. There are a lot of questions. Which legal entity will accept the goods? Do legal entities accepting goods have a corresponding number in the register of the Azerbaijani State Tax Service?

Moreover, there may be thousands of other issues related to customs clearance and control. If there are no answers to them, it is impossible to organise customs control. If there is no customs control, commercial goods will not be transported from Armenia along the Lachin road.

There is a logical end. To solve all these problems and to consider additional issues that may arise, it is necessary to start to hold substantive negotiations between the central government of Azerbaijan and the Armenians living in Garabagh. Only as a result of these negotiations, a roadmap for the use of the Lachin road can be developed for commercial purposes.

That is, firstly, the central government of Azerbaijan and the Armenians of Garabagh should start a dialogue; secondly, the first steps towards reintegration must be taken; thirdly, the Aghdam-Khankandi road should be restored and should be used; fourthly, a customs control point on the Lachin road should be opened and, finally, the transportation of commercial goods along the Lachin road should begin.

Only this way any goods must be transported to the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan. There is no other way as the ancients said: dura Lex, sed Lex...