“It’s obvious that this is a crisis situation. The Azerbaijani side crossed the Armenian state borders, violated our state legislation and territorial integrity, and is in a location where it shouldn’t be,” the Bright Armenia faction leader Edmon Marukyan said during a press conference at Sputnik Armenia in reference to the events in Syunik.
In his opinion, Armenia needs to take steps in two directions. “The first is that we should have attempted to prevent them from crossing the border and attacked them in the beginning. That was the first option. But the situation is such that they have already deployed there. It was just discovered because we have around 540 kilometers of new borders as a result of the war, which, essentially, are not completely armed and there aren’t border guards everywhere. After discovering them, negotiations began. The Armenian side has legitimate rights to use all the tools at its disposal, including force, as a result of negotiations if Azerbaijan does not concede. However, the methods that are being used now are correct. If that is true, then all methods should be used, and then the final method, the use of force, should remain. But there is hope that the Azerbaijani side will retreat as a result of negotiations. It was the right decision to appeal to the CSTO because new escalations are developing at the border of a member state.”
Marukyan added that this should not be used for domestic political goals in any way because this is the border of Armenia, it is everyone’s border, and everyone needs to unite as one. If this is a case for negotiation, they must negotiate, and if this is a case for battle, they must fight. “Azerbaijan will not calm down in any way if they see that we or the CSTO tolerated this.”
According to the deputy, this is not the case of Khtsaberd, and if they allow it, Azerbaijan will constantly bring forth new maps and say that this is theirs. “There are many places where Azerbaijan does not have forces. We can also go and deploy there. But when the Armenian side carries itself in accordance with the November 9th agreement, it does not mean that Azerbaijan should start new provocations.”
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When asked why Armenia appealed to the CSTO according to Article 2, which says that there is a threat, Marukyan said that he doesn’t know, but after studying the document, he came to the conclusion that the Armenian side does not want to use all of its bullets at once. However, Armenia does not want troops from the CSTO yet. “We are negotiating for the Azerbaijani troops to retreat towards their initial positions. The government has the right to impose martial law, but I do not have such information now. Since there is still a chance for a peaceful resolution, I do not think that we need to impose martial law, which will cause the Central Electoral Commission’s time frame to be cancelled.”
When asked why he is placing his hopes on negotiations when there have been no results after negotiating for two days and when they have already shown up in the Gegharkunik Province, Marukyan said, “Any scenario can take place. It is possible for them to all retreat now and for all of this to end. They can also stay where they are and start a new conflict. Anything is possible. One thing is obvious: we need to use all of our chances to resolve this crisis peacefully. There were phone conversations with Macron and Putin, there was the CSTO statement, there are discussions between the foreign ministers, and the parliament is doing a lot of work diplomatically. But we should not rule out any scenarios. Every scenario should be put on the table.”
When asked about how we have POWs from Khtsaberd and Azerbaijan did not waste any time in considering them terrorists and capturing them, and if he would consider this to be the best solution in this case, Marukyan said, “If resolving the scenario through peaceful negotiations is not the best solution, then the next solution is war. In other words, are you suggesting that we try to get rid of the Azerbaijani troops and go to war, and go to war on Armenian territory? This war will naturally not end with eliminating 250 people. Isn’t it clear that the Armenian side can destroy those 250 soldiers in a second? The question is what happens after.”
According to Marukyan, the best solution would have been to capture the 250 soldiers and file criminal cases, and then to send them back in exchange for Armenian POWs.
Hripsime Jebejyan
