“We attach great importance to that meeting. Mr. Khovaev just assumed that position and we had to get acquainted with him personally. Naturally, we discussed various issues related to the settlement of the conflict, the resumption of the negotiation process, and the situation. We also spoke about the importance of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ visit to the region. It was quite a meaningful conversation, which impressed us. He is an experienced diplomat and a good person, which allows us to continue the peace initiative and mission,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh Davit Babayan told Aravot Daily, speaking about his meeting with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovaev in Yerevan and the results of the meeting. “There are serious discussions and a number of concrete preliminary agreements. The time will come, we will see how it is implemented,” Davit Babayan said, answering the question on the preconditions for restoring the OSCE Minsk Group format and resuming negotiations.
Touching upon the discussions between Azerbaijan and Russia on the legal issues of deployment of Russian peacekeepers and answering the question of whether it is possible to extend the mandate of the Russian peacekeepers, the necessity of which is already being discussed, the NKR Foreign Minister said that Russian peacekeepers are one of the main guarantors of Artsakh’s security. “As for the timing of this mission, it is natural that this is up to Russia to decide. But Russia has a great sense of responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the region. Therefore, until the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict is resolved, and it is unlikely to be resolved by 2025, it seems to me that the Russian peacekeeping mission’s presence in Artsakh will be extended. Until the conflict is resolved, there must be peacekeepers.”
In response to the question of whether it is possible for Azerbaijan to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops before the end of the mission, as it has not yet signed the mandate of peacekeepers, Babayan answered. “Azerbaijan can take any step, but this is another matter because Azerbaijan may demand the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping mission if the conflict is resolved. And we see the settlement only in one way- when our right to self-determination and its implementation is recognized. That is, we can never be part of Azerbaijan. If Azerbaijan recognizes this fact, a completely different process will start.” If we want to become stronger and bring back what we have lost, in Davit Babayan’s opinion, we need a long time, during which we must clean ourselves. “We consider that 80% of the territory of Artsakh is occupied, and we have always talked about it. That’s why I say that we have to fight inside to restore our value system and cleanse ourselves. This is not only the problem of the authorities. The authorities do not come from the air; we are not a colony to bring and force each other. The government is the mirror of society and reflects the dominant ideas. This is a broader issue and requires a long process.”
Answering the positive signals coming from Turkey and the Armenian government’s tendencies to respond positively to them while Turkey continues to reaffirm its well-known preconditions, one of which is that Artsakh is part of Azerbaijan, Davit Babayan said, “Who does not want peace, solidarity, and expansion of ties? Everyone wants it, but it is a question of at what cost. Turkey does not hide and says that its demand is to renounce Artsakh and genocide recognition. We believe that renouncing Artsakh and genocide recognition cannot lead to solidarity and the development of Armenia. If we do not uphold our values, we are not proud of our past in a good way, then our present and future are in danger. Moreover, we simply do not imagine that there can be anyone or official Yerevan recognizing that Artsakh is part of Azerbaijan. This is not possible.” In response to the question of if official Yerevan goes that way, will the Artsakh authorities oppose the Armenian authorities, Babayan responded, “If the precondition should be the recognition of Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, I do not imagine that such a thing can happen. And if such a thing is not possible, let’s not bother ourselves with what ifs. I repeat, I do not think such a thing will happen, but if it happens, we will see.”
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Nelly GRIGORYAN
