4 minute read
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will activate work on the draft peace treaty, stating that 90 percent of the work has been completed, and all that remains is to make the final effort and sign the peace treaty.
During a Parliamentary Q&A session with Cabinet members, Pashinyan referring to publications in the Azerbaijani press alleging that Armenia is preparing a new war against Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister emphasized that the central thesis of these publications is that Armenia, specifically the Prime Minister, should start a war against Azerbaijan for domestic political reasons.
"However, any observer can see that, on the contrary, for domestic political reasons, it is beneficial for the governing team and specifically for me that the situation in the region remains stable," said Pashinyan.
He pointed out that the aforementioned publications suggest there are forces interested in destabilizing the situation in the region. According to Pashinyan, the Armenian side's response should be to resist any provocation and tirelessly clarify its position.
“We have no reason to attack Azerbaijan because we have recognized each other’s territorial integrity based on the Alma-Ata Declaration," the Prime Minister said.
“We have even agreed on the Regulation on the joint activity of the border commissions and must begin delimiting the next section of the border in the near future,” Pashinyan added.
"I exclude any action by the Republic of Armenia aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region," the Prime Minister concluded.
He recalled the aggression carried out against Armenia in 2021 and 2022, including the occupation of more than 200 sq. km of Armenian territories at different times.
“However, we have also stated and continue to state that resolving the issue of these territories through military means is not and will not be on our agenda,” said Pashinyan, adding that the delimitation process provides an opportunity to address and resolve all these issues through negotiations on a legal basis.
The Prime Minister assured that Armenia is committed to the peace agenda, emphasizing that Armenia has no military issues with any of its neighbors.
"I hope that we will activate the work on the draft peace treaty, because 90 percent of the work has been done, and it remains to make the final effort and sign the peace treaty. We have also proposed a very real, realistic solution to the issue of opening communications in the region; it remains only to take direct steps in all directions and resolve it. And there is simply no basis for escalation in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations in the region," Pashinyan concluded.