“Basing the process of demarcation and delimitation on maps of Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan is destruction for Armenian statehood and dangerous for the physical existence of Armenians,” YSU professor Menua Soghomonyan said during an emergency rally held by the Armenian Self-Defense Committee (5165 Movement and the Zartonk National-Christian Party).
He presented in detail the reasons on the basis of which they came to such a conclusion. “If such a document is signed, we agree to Artsakh becoming an integral part of Azerbaijan. With this document, we hand over our strategic communications to the control of Azerbaijan, violating the right of the people of Artsakh to autonomy. This secret process of demarcation and delimitation is an integral part of the process of opening a corridor between Azerbaijan and Turkey over the territory of Armenia.”
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Menua Soghomonyan assured that if we agree to this now while the Artsakh issue has not been resolved, and a border is defined between Azerbaijan and Armenia, then we also accept that Armenia does not have a border with Artsakh and the eastern border of the Republic of Armenia is, essentially, Azerbaijan. Then, he continued. “If we did not recognize the annexation of Artsakh to Soviet Azerbaijan, that is why we started the movement in 1988. What right do we have today to agree to recognize the border with Azerbaijan when the Artsakh issue has not been resolved? Therefore, we insist that the demarcation and delimitation of the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan should be within the context of the settlement of the Artsakh issue, taking into account the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and reliable geographical connection with Armenia.”
Menua Soghomonyan warned that this secret process includes the Voskepar-Baghanis section of the interstate road passing through northeastern Armenia being handed over to Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan also gains control towards the south by taking the Tigranashen portion of the Ararat province. They are carrying out the process of demarcation and delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan as secretly as they signed the November 9th agreement.”
He also emphasized that people should not give into the government’s claim that Moscow is forcing Armenia to open a corridor, and said, “We must not give into the government’s claims which, using their own vocabulary, are licking Russian boots on one hand and on the other, are transmitting messages about looking for owners.”
Menua Soghomonyan also spoke about the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov’s statement that it is impossible for a corridor to be opened through Armenia if Armenia does not want it.
Tatev Harutyunyan
