Artsakh’s fight against international terrorism changes a lot in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Pashinyan
October 7, 2020
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview to the Russian First Channel, expressing an opinion that at present Nagorno Karabakh is practically fighting against international terrorism, which changes a lot in the context of the Nagorno Karabakh issue. This was reported to Armenpress by the Information and Public Relations Department of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.
The question and answer is presented below.
Question: Were you surprised by the Azerbaijani attack, its intensity and technical equipment, in particular, the mass use of drones?
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – To be honest, it was not unexpected, as Azerbaijan has been carrying out military rhetoric, hate speech against Armenians and everything related to Armenians for a long time. And the language of threats has become common for us. the fact that Azerbaijan speaks the language of threat. Unexpectedly, fighters of terrorist groups were involved in this conflict. I think this changes the whole context of what is happening, because yesterday Russia, the Russian special services officially confirmed that the fighters of some international terrorist groups are involved in hostilities in Karabakh, that is, in the attack on Nagorno Karabakh. I think that now in practice Nagorno Karabakh is fighting against international terrorism. And this changes a lot in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
Question: Yesterday is not the first day after the escalation. You have been to Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh for the first time, met with the military, you have probably seen a lot with your own eyes. The tactics used by the Azerbaijani army, which are most likely aimed at the use of high-precision weapons, to eliminate a logistical part of the Armenian army. What do you oppose to that tactic?
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – The Nagorno Karabakh army opposes this with the mobility of the armed forces and preventive strikes. It still does not turn out badly! In addition, the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army is successfully destroying these drones.
Question: The Azerbaijani leadership says that it is ready to cease fire in case you recognize Nagorno Karabakh as the territory of Azerbaijan, there are even demands to present a timetable for the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Nagorno Karabakh. You take the opposite position. And this is like a dead end. What compromises are you ready for? What compromises are unacceptable?
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – You know, in this atmosphere it is not appropriate to talk about details. As for the resolution, it is obvious that in any conflict, if we really want to resolve that conflict, compromises are needed. Compromises are needed. And I think the Armenian side has always been ready for compromises. And if Azerbaijan is also ready to compromise, it will change the situation.
Question: Baku accuses you of violating the UN Security Council resolution on Karabakh. How can you answer these accusations? And did those resolutions somehow manage to resolve the controversy?
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – You know, those Security Council resolutions should not be taken out of context and presented in a different light. It is necessary to analyze very clearly, clearly and soberly what is written there. It does not say anything about military operations by Armenia at all. The latest resolution states that Azerbaijan has violated the international ceasefire agreement, as a result of which it has lost territories, and those territories have been taken over by the self-defense forces of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia is spoken about in a different context. Armenia is urged to use its ties with the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh in order to somehow stabilize the situation. That is, the last of those resolutions was adopted in 1993. during a specific operational situation. It is about a specific situation. And those resolutions should not be cut out of context.
Question: Can the contradictions between Azerbaijan and Armenia go beyond the borders of bilateral relations, the borders of bilateral conflict? You assure that the Turkish military is, in fact, leading the operation. Can it take any war beyond the borders of the region, beyond the borders? In that case, what kind of international support do you expect?
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – The situation has already gone beyond the borders of the region. I mean from the borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict region, because when radicals, international terrorists are already present here, it already poses a threat to the security of all countries in the greater region. And this is a threat to the security of the whole world, to global security. In other words, this has already gone beyond the borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
And, of course, Turkey’s involvement is changing the context. I have said about it many times during the last week, during the last ten days. Why did Turkey return to the South Caucasus a hundred years later? For two reasons. To continue the policy of Armenian Genocide. Why does Turkey need this policy? To continue its policy of expansion, the imperial policy to the north, do east, go south. And all this must be viewed in the context of the policy that Turkey is pursuing in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Greece towards Cyprus, and so on. This is a policy of restoring the Turkish Empire. And this is already a source of threat not only to regional countries in the narrow sense, but also to global security in the broadest sense. And I am convinced that the international partners should draw concrete conclusions from this, because this is no longer a question of Nagorno Karabakh և Armenia’s security. This is a matter of security for countries, powers, and even a wide range of superpowers.
Question: Nagorno Karabakh has not been recognized by Armenia. Although in recent days both you and the President of Armenia have spoken about such an opportunity. Do you think recognition can help Karabakh in any way, or will it aggravate the situation?
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – You asked the most important question, at least one of the most important questions. The question is, if our analysis leads to the fact that it will help Karabakh to resolve the issue, we will take such a step, if not, we will refrain from such a decision. We are currently in discussions. In addition, we take into account that we must be the most constructive member of the international community.
Question: The current conflict is the most intense and bloody in the region in the last quarter century. But sooner or later every war ends. How do you imagine peace?
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – It is just necessary to stop the fire, it is necessary to stop the attack on Karabakh, it is necessary to stop the terrorist act, because I consider that this is an international terrorist act against the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
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English translation – LOUSAVOR AVEDIS:
