WCC News: As Armenian ambassador visits, WCC reiterates calls to lift blockade of Nagorno-Karabagh

On 28th August, during a visit with Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the UN Office, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed solidarity with those making efforts to lift the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by reopening the Lachin corridor. WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay with the Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the UN Office, 28 August 2023, Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC 29 August 2023 Pillay also expressed ongoing grave concern about the escalating humanitarian crisis in the blockaded enclave of Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh). The meeting, requested by the ambassador, was focused on the Lachin corridor—the only road that links the region to Armenia—which has been blocked for more than eight months, seriously affecting the lives and living conditions of 120,000 people, including children. Hovhannisyan expressed appreciation for the support of the WCC, and shared stories of those who are suffering. He also expressed grief and concern over the culture of Christian heritage and churches being destroyed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Hovhannisyan warned that “If the blockade is not lifted soon, tens of thousands of people will perish, resulting in an ethnic cleansing,”  The WCC, through statements and joint letters, has been urging the international community to intervene immediately and quickly in order to end the blockade and save the lives of the Artsakh residents. The WCC—through the WCC 11th Assembly and its central committee—has repeatedly urged more efforts to find diplomatic solutions for a just peace in the region. “The WCC has called and continues to call on Azerbaijan and other forces involved for the immediate lifting of the blockade and to reopen the Lachin corridor to allow for the two-way free and safe passage of civilians, transport, and goods along the corridor and to guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access to alleviate this senseless suffering,” said Pillay. “Lasting peace can be built only with the genuine commitment to seeing people as human beings—not as collateral for winning a war.” Pillay pointed out that the WCC will continue to address issues of humanitarian concerns, human rights and religious freedom in this context. He also indicated an interest in visiting the area as soon as possible, hoping that access would be provided to the Lachin corridor as well, adding “so that we can establish the facts and see for ourselves what is going on.” The ambassador was accompanied by Vahe Hakobyan, consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the Swiss Confederation. Pillay was accompanied by Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director of Public Witness and Diakonia; Peter Prove, director of the WCC's Commission of the Churches on International Affairs; Carla Khijoyan, WCC programme executive for the Middle East; and Dr Ani Ghazaryan Drissi, WCC Faith and Order programme executive. In joint letter to European Union, WCC and Conference of European Churches urge lifting blockade of Nagorno-Karabagh (WCC news release 4 August 2023) WCC call on Azerbaijan for the immediate lifting of the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh WCC releases minute on consequences of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war (news release, 8 September 2022) Read the minute on consequences of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war Joint letter of the World Council of Churches and Conference of European Churches to OSCE in relation to escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh (September 2022) WCC, Conference of European Churches denounce blockade of ethnic Armenian region (news release, 20 December 2022) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland