YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, made a speech at the 10th meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the CIS member states.

Armen Grigoryan first thanked Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev for the invitation to participate in the meeting, congratulating Patrushev and the Russian people on the Unity Day to be celebrated tomorrow, on November 4.

“On the agenda of our today's meeting is the issue of "International security challenges and threats under current conditions", and within its framework I would like to address the security issues of the South Caucasus and, in particular, the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The reason for the urgency of this issue for us is the military aggression carried out by Azerbaijan against Armenia on September 13 of this year.

I would like to specifically mention that it was not a border incident or a border clash, as some forces tried to present, but a large-scale invasion of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia with the use of heavy artillery, rocket launchers and drones. The armed forces of Azerbaijan shelled 36 settlements and communities deep in the sovereign territory of Armenia, including the cities of Goris, Jermuk, Vardenis, Kapan.

Thanks to the stubborn and heroic resistance of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and the reaction of our partners, the attack of Azerbaijan was stopped, but the military-political situation remains tense.

This aggression of Azerbaijan was discussed in the UN Security Council, the majority of whose members condemned Azerbaijan's illegal military operations. The aggression was also widely condemned by the international community.

The targets of the Azerbaijani aggression were the peaceful civilian population and the vitally important civil infrastructures. The total number of people temporarily displaced from Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik Provinces of Armenia to safe places is more than 7600 people, mostly women and old people, as well as 1437 children and 99 persons with disabilities.  

About 192 residential buildings, 3 hotels, 2 schools, 1 medical facility were partially or completely destroyed. 7 electricity supply facilities, 5 water supply facilities, 3 gas pipelines, 1 bridge were damaged. 2 ambulances and 4 private cars were targeted. The Kechut reservoir located south of the resort town of Jermuk was also shelled.

As a result of the aggression, the number of victims exceeds 210, of which 3 civilians. 2 people are considered missing. 293 servicemen and 8 civilians were injured. Along with that, the Azerbaijani side has published shocking videos of torture of captured persons, inflicting physical injuries, extrajudicial reprisals against Armenian prisoners of war, including women, murders, as well as humiliating treatment of the bodies of the dead.

I must note that the risk of new aggression by Azerbaijan not only persists, but also remains quite high. Almost every day, the Azerbaijani side organizes provocations, violates the ceasefire on the border, accusing the Armenian side for it.

I would also like to emphasize that since May 2021, the consequences of the aggression of the Azerbaijani side against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia have not been eliminated, and the armed forces of Azerbaijan continue to illegally control dozens of square kilometers of the territory of our country.

Dear colleagues,

Currently, the Republic of Armenia is making efforts to normalize relations with Azerbaijan. The work of border delimitation and border security commissions is important in the settlement process, the formation of which was agreed upon on November 26, 2021, during the trilateral meeting of the President of Russia, the President of Azerbaijan, and the Prime Minister of Armenia in Sochi.

Two meetings of the border delimitation and border security commissions have already been held, and the third is scheduled to be held in the coming days.

In this process, the fundamental documents of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the United Nations have a significant role. In particular, in the first days of the creation of the CIS, on December 21, 1991, the Alma-Ata Declaration was adopted, by which our states recognized each other's territorial integrity and the inviolability of existing borders.

Just two days ago, on October 31, based on the results of the trilateral meeting of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia held in Sochi, a statement was adopted, according to which the parties "agreed to refrain from the use of force or the threat of its use, to discuss and resolve all problematic issues exclusively on the basis of mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in accordance with the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration".

Through the mediation of the President of France and the President of the European Council, as a result of the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan held in Prague on October 6, an agreement was reached, according to which in the process of border delimitation, the parties will accept as a basis the documents of the CIS and the United Nations, according to which the former administrative borders of the Soviet republics have become state borders between already independent countries, including between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Recognition of this fact is extremely important for ensuring stability and security not only on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, but also throughout the CIS.

We attach importance to the establishment of delimitation and border security commissions. However, this does not mean that there are no borders at all, as some people sometimes try to present.

To insist that borders do not exist is very dangerous and irresponsible. It blurs such fundamental concepts as sovereignty, territorial integrity and paves the way for aggressive actions.

Existing CIS and UN documents confirm the fact that the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was already demarcated during the years of the USSR. Therefore, there has been an invasion of Azerbaijani troops into the sovereign territory of Armenia, and these troops must leave the Armenian territory.

Dear participants of the meeting,

In the context of unblocking transport communications in the region, I also want to note that the Azerbaijani side constantly raises the issue of opening a "transport corridor" through the territory of Armenia. The position of the Republic of Armenia on this issue has not changed. There cannot be a road or transport route in the territory of Armenia in the logic of a corridor. I have stated this many times and I would like to emphasize once again that there is no reference to such corridors in the trilateral statements of the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan of November 9, 2020, January 11, and November 26, 2021, as well as in the decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin No. 695 of November 10, 2020 "On measures aimed at maintaining peace in Nagorno-Karabakh". Therefore, we consider unacceptable the arbitrary and false interpretation of the reached agreements.

At the same time, we are interested in a real solution to the issue of unblocking communication channels in the region and support the activities of the trilateral Working Group established under the joint chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. The work of this working group stems from the fact that the transport infrastructures being restored and constructed must operate under the full sovereignty and within the framework of the national legislation of the states through which they pass. On this basis, the Republic of Armenia is ready to open the roads as soon as possible. Moreover, the draft decision of the Armenian Government to open three checkpoints to ensure transport communication between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan has been in official circulation for a long time.

However, as we can see, the Azerbaijani side is not interested in the real solution of the issue in a constructive way and continues to put forward the "corridor" version of the solution, which is not acceptable for Armenia. In short, it is very difficult to get into dialogue and agree with those who have no desire for dialogue and pursue completely different goals.

Dear colleagues,

In the context of the above, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we are talking about the opening of all communications in the region, and sometimes it is ignored or not mentioned the fact that according to the statements of the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan, I will quote paragraph 9 of the Declaration of November 9, 2020, "All economic and transport links in the region will be  unblocked." In other words, communications should be opened not only for Azerbaijan, but also for Armenia.

That is, it is not a one-way road, but a comprehensive process from which all parties should benefit. In particular, Armenia is interested in the use of communication channels passing through the territory of Azerbaijan, aiming to carry out cargo transportation in both directions.

Dear colleagues, dear Nikolai Platonovich,

In conclusion, I would like to once again thank the Russian side for the warm welcome and hospitality and wish everyone a good day and productive work.

Thanks for attention", said Security Council Secretary of Armenia Armen Grigoryan.