“The Artsakh issue remains at the center of attention of European courts. On the occasion of the unanimous adoption of the resolution, I suggest that your committee prepare a proposal, resolution or call to the Council of Europe for the latter to conclude any political, diplomatic, especially economic agreement with Azerbaijan, until the release of the Armenian prisoners of war, until they are respected or defended. The complex of self-determination and human rights of the Armenians of Artsakh,” the chair of the European Party of Armenia, Tigran Khzmalyan, stated at the March 18 sitting of the NA Standing Committee on European Affairs, referring to the resolution on the “Destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh,” who participated in the sitting as a guest.
According to Khzmalyan, in this situation it would be very appropriate if the Committee on European Affairs makes such a proposal before the National Assembly, and then presents it to the Council of Europe. “It is very important especially in this situation, when the so-called strategic ally of the Republic of Armenia, in the context of its imminent defeat, may withdraw its military troops from the occupied territories of Artsakh, which will create a great need to oppose it with any other international guarantee. This will play a good preparatory role for our further steps.” Tigran Khzmalyan then expressed confidence that now is a convenient and easy moment to demonize Azerbaijan.
Agnesa Khamoyan, a member of the Armenia faction, did not like Tigran Khzmalyan’s remarks about Russia. “You used the commission to make unacceptable statements against our strategic partner. The fact is that today the security of the people of Artsakh is provided by the Russian peacekeepers. I welcome the resolution from European partners, but let me remind you that during the 44-day war, half of the sanctions against Azerbaijan were not applied by those same centers, which today impose sanctions on Russia in different packages. Can you explain the trend? Do you think that we can fit into the anti-Russian trend, to somehow question the fragile peace hanging by a hair with our speeches? It is one thing when you write on your Facebook page that Russia was destroyed, it is another thing when you make such statements at the sitting of this commission.”
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The chair of the commission, MP of the Civil Contract faction Arman Yeghoyan, agreed with the last consideration. “Yes, they are different things.” Tigran Khzmalyan responded, “I am a participant in the 44-day war, I do not feel the need for your references. I remember everything, including whose weapons and instructions were used to kill our military brothers. And my statements are my political position. Let us not turn your political tastes into political assessments. As for the remark that Russian troops are stationed in Artsakh, let me remind you that a politician must think about who will be stationed there tomorrow. That was the main meaning of my proposal.”
Referring to Tigran Khzmalyan’s aforementioned proposal on Azerbaijan, deputy of the Civil Contract faction Arsen Torosyan stressed that in order to make such a statement, there must be an inter-party consensus. “I think it is possible.”
Arman Yeghoyan, in his turn, welcomed the essence of Tigran Khzmalyan’s proposal, but called on to refrain from taking sides in geopolitical conflicts. “By taking sides, we do not significantly change the geopolitical balance, but we can change our situation significantly. Such big players collided on the field in that collision. If we suddenly find ourselves in the middle, we can suffer a lot. We should have learned from history that we should not interfere in any way during the clash of adults. Let me disagree with those assessments, but the commission is still open for different parties. We want to have a dialogue, but not to lead the conversation to a deadlock.”
Luiza Sukiasyan
