NKR President Adviser Tigran Abrahamyan on latest developments
-International media published documents confirming the rumors on Azerbaijan providing the Islamic State with armament. What comment will you give on it? Was it coincidental that the documents were published now?
-Such documents, as a rule, are not published coincidentally. I think it was a result of a process not seeable for a wide public. Azerbaijan has not fulfilled its responsibilities towards a subject, probably the publication of the documents is the consequence of it. In any case, such and suchlike events show that Azerbaijan, as a country, is unpredictable, which is an important indicator for the international players. To us these revelations are not a big surprise, we have known that state, the behavior and real face of the authorities acting there since long ago.
-Did the international public, the Co-Chairs of Minsk Group give a proper response?
-This statement made by the Co-Chairs has solved solely an issue of operativeness. It would have been more important if the Co-Chairs gave a response to what had taken place 1-2 days before that incident, when the OSCE mission was not allowed to be taken to the frontline in Azerbaijan, which had been agreed in advance. We have 3-4 similar cases during the previous year, when a provocation followed right after not letting the OSCE mission to the frontline. Processes of this kind should become a subject of analysis to the intermediaries for the provocations to be prevented in time.
-Did Azerbaijan undertake another provocation on July 4 to distract the attention from the scandalous publication of the documents?
-I would not say that scandalous event alone motivated Azerbaijan to undertake provocations. Two weeks ago 3 soldiers died because of grenade fire attack by Azerbaijan: these documents were not still published at that time.
-The Armenian side expressed concerns implying that this provocation of Azerbaijan has a far-reaching objective and a recommencement of large-scale war operations is possible. Do you consider it likely? Are we ready for that both from political and military perspectives? Will April surprises recur no more?
-The imports of armaments, the impudent announcements on war recommencement, the spread of armenophobia and various provocations are one part of the chain of Azerbaijani state policy. We know well the far-reaching objectives of Azerbaijan and the main aim of the intermediary countries is to bring Azerbaijan into a rational platform. We have our scenario both for “wars on the borderline” and large-scale operations likely. We have implemented and actively continue to implement complex events directed at the essential increase of the combat readiness of the army and protection capabilities since the April military operations.
-Azerbaijani side has already started to manipulate the death of civil persons. What has happened in reality?
-The subunits of the Defense Army have demolished the firing points having continually targeted the Armenian military bases and command points. It is another thing that the firing points, military bases, as a rule, are located at densely populated residential areas. It depicts the attitude of Azerbaijani authorities towards its own citizens the best. This moment onwards, all movements, the activity noticed nearby the border from the Azerbaijani side which can threaten the security of our soldiers or the situation escalation, will be strictly punished.
-Do you consider the long-planned meeting of the presidents possible?
-A lot depends on the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and, assuredly, the situation on the frontline. In any case, currently no bases are noticeable which will give an opportunity to return to the negotiations. Azerbaijan apparently declines all steps leading to negotiations.
-What document lies on the table of negotiations presently?
-Document? What document? Are negotiations taking place? No. The steps of the intermediaries are directed at this – to take Azerbaijan back to the table of negotiations, however, Azerbaijan obviously resists. Whatever is discussed further on, any agreement or decision regarding the conflict cannot be made without Artsakh’s participation.
Interview by NELLY GRIGORYAN
“Aravot”
07.07.2017
