US working with Azerbaijan, Armenia to allow food reach Garabagh

The United States has worked continuously with Azerbaijan and Armenia over the past several weeks to allow humanitarian assistance to reach Garabagh.

The remarks came from the US Department of State's Spokesperson Matthew Miller on August 31, Caliber.Az reports.

He said officials from Baku and representatives from the Armenian minority in Garabagh should convene to agree on the means of transporting goods to Karabak, including food.

Miller added that the talks should also focus on resuming humanitarian, commercial, and passenger traffic, additional supply routes, and resumption of discussions on all outstanding issues.

On August 29, the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society dispatched 40 tons of flour products in two lorries from the capital Baku to the Aghdam district.

The cargo reached Aghdam on the same day but could not move toward the final destination in the city of Khankendi due to rejection by the Garabakh Armenians, who took on Wednesday to a road leading from Aghdam to Khankendi. They staged a protest to block the possible movement of the aid convoy.

Amashov earlier said the negotiations between the Azerbaijani side and the Russian peacekeepers have been underway to work out the best possible arrangement to send the supplies from Aghdam] to Khankendi.

The movement of the aid convoy to Khankendi could resume the traffic on the Aghdam-Khankendi road after decades. The proposal to use the road for goods supplies to the Garabakh region was put forward by Azerbaijani authorities, after multiple illegal shipments were uncovered on the Lachin road – the route connecting the Garabakh region of Azerbaijan with Armenia.

However, the Armenians in the Garabakh region and Yerevan turned down the proposal insisting on the use of the Lachin road, while simultaneously blocking the Aghdam-Khankendi road.

In July, President Ilham Aliyev said the so-called “leadership” of Armenians in the Garabakh region had deliberately installed concrete blocks on the Aghdam-Asgaran portion of the Aghdam-Khankendi road.