The Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, Artak Zakaryan, opines that Azerbaijanis manipulation of the issue related to the Sarsang reservoir is a blackmail. As we have already reported, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has complained of the PACE rapporteur, the Bosnian parliamentarian Milica MARKOVIĆ that “The Azerbaijan’s population of the border zone are deprived of the chance to have an access to the Sarsang reservoir located in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenians do not allow.”
Aravot.am asked whether the Armenian side is not going to take measures with regard to this issue and whether they do not fear that raising this issue by Azerbaijanis so consistently may result in the fact that the Europeans will begin considering their complaint fundamental, Artak Zakaryan replied, “Azerbaijanis have repeatedly manipulated this issue and still do by creating an impression with ignorant people that the Nagorno-Karabakh is implementing an ecological blockade in some residential areas of Lower Karabakh. It is purely disinformation and speculation, in some places, also a blackmail. I do not think that all those people who are aware of the nature of the problem can surrender to Azerbaijan’s blackmail. Sarsang reservoir is a supply of natural resources and serves its purpose. As for our actions, then in the event of raising this issue, our response is definite. Let them go and carry out a monitoring. Indeed, there is a fear that ignorant people may surrender to Azerbaijan’s blackmail, but there is no problem with the Sarsang reservoir.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
