WCC News: WCC delegation, in Armenia, reaches Lachin area, sees humanitarian aid being blocked

A World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation nearly reached the Lachin corridor on 19 September, the same day Azerbaijan launched attacks against Armenian forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) region. WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay near the bridge connecting the Lachin corridor to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). Photo: WCC 19 September 2023 In a video message, WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay stood near the bridge connecting the Lachin corridor to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).  “Just a few hours ago, there have been some shootings that have taken place, and we are told that some soldiers have actually been killed, so we are being prevented from going further,” said Pillay. “We have taken a decision not to proceed because it is a risk, and so we at least are here, and we can partly see certain things, and we know this entire place is blocked.” Pillay said he could clearly see that, with regard to the Lachin corridor, the roads are not open or free to anyone, and there is definitely no passage for goods to be transported unless permission is granted. “So it is a sad situation, but we are here,” said Pillay. “We have come as far as we possibly can go. We can’t go any further, and we appreciate that the soldiers and the church consider it highly risky for us to proceed, so we will not proceed,” he added.  The delegation is visiting Armenia to express solidarity of the global fellowship, study the situation, establish facts, and consider with the local leaders and people what the WCC can do to address the situation.  “There is total restriction in terms of movement, and this obviously describes the situation of the people,” said Pillay. “We are quite sure that not many goods have reached them and therefore they would be denied access to humanitarian support unless permitted, so we are concerned—and we do want to share this situation with everybody out there in terms of what we are experiencing in the Lachin corridor.” The corridor has been blocked for more than nine months, seriously affecting the lives and living conditions of 120,000 people, including children.  His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, vice moderator of the WCC central committee and on the scene with Pillay, said that war is taking place. “While we have seen many difficulties in our history, we have had one of the worst genocides,” he said. “My message to the world leaders and to human beings is: don’t oversee another genocide.  I am calling the presidents, the prime ministers of major countries: Do not oversee a genocide that is taking place right now.” He also thanked the World Council of Churches, the Protestant Church of Switzerland, and other churches and organizations for their solidarity with the Armenian people.  Photos from the WCC visit to Armenia WCC delegation to visit Armenia (WCC news release, 15 September 2023) In joint letter to European Union, WCC and Conference of European Churches urge lifting blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh (WCC news release, 04 August 2023) WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay near the Lachin corridor, Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh 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