“At the moment, RA is working with the international community regarding the Lachin Corridor,” said Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of the Council of the Republic of Armenia, in a briefing with journalists at the RA National Assembly. He assured that RA is using all available capabilities and tools so that the Lachin Corridor returns to its ordinary course and works according to the statement of November 9. It is clearly stated that the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia should be carried out without hindrance through the Lachin corridor. He emphasized that there were appeals in the UN Security Council and that we should continue to work in this direction. “The Republic of Armenia calls on the international community – it will be the UN, the OSCE, the OSCE Minsk Group – to send missions to the Lachin Corridor so that we can resolve this situation. It is dangerous from the point of view that 120 thousand Armenians are currently under siege in Artsakh. We are facing a humanitarian crisis.”
To the question: RA has sent the proposals with the peace treaty to Azerbaijan. What are these proposals, and is it possible to sign the peace treaty by the end of the year?
“If Azerbaijan responds positively to these proposals, it is possible. It depends on Azerbaijan. RA continues to make efforts to establish peace in the region. RA has taken the step. The created crisis again shows Azerbaijan’s constructive role in the region when peace negotiations are underway, but Azerbaijan closes the Lachin corridor through so-called environmentalists. I don’t know if there are people with the rank of general or captain among environmentalists. Still, the fact that these people are representatives of the defense and government of Azerbaijan is unequivocal. In this regard, Azerbaijan organized the blockade, the government itself, that step has nothing to do with any civil environmentalists.”
To the question of how meaningful it is to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan if it does not keep the commitments of November 9, he answered:
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“In the text of the peace treaty, we proposed the so-called institute of guarantors, by international organizations and states as guarantors, that is, the institute of guarantors of the peace treaty. It will be able to ensure the implementation of that contract. We also suggested creating a mechanism to appeal to the international court. If a crisis arises and it is impossible to solve, we should turn to the international court to agree on it.” To the question: does he have an explanation for why the Russian peacekeepers do not fulfill their obligations regarding the Lachin Corridor, Armen Grigoryan answered:
“According to the tripartite declaration, the Lachin Corridor is completely under the control of the Russian peacekeeping forces, and they are responsible for implementing uninterrupted traffic in the corridor. Naturally, the Russian Federation should fulfill its obligations and ensure uninterrupted traffic. As for why he is not doing it, do send that question to some structure of the Russian Federation. We have already sent that question to them both publicly and privately.”
To the question of what was the answer from the Russian Federation, the Secretary of the Council of Armenia answered: “If the corridor remains closed, it means that they did not take enough steps in that direction.”
Armen Grigoryan responded to the reminder that if Russian peacekeepers open the Lachin corridor by force, a war will begin. “The opposition also calls us to take such steps, not thinking such a war is possible. It seems that they are not aware of the military and political situation of RA. In the case of RA, that circumstance is not taken into account. I don’t understand whether they have anything to do with Armenia. They protect other countries more than RA”.
Armen Grigoryan answered the question: which countries can be guarantors? “We missed that question. It depends on the states willing to take on the role of such a guarantor.” When asked whether a Pashinyan-Aliev meeting is possible soon, Armen Grigoryan answered: as soon as there is such clarity, you will know about it publicly.
Armen Grigoryan replied to the clarification: Will the Lachin corridor be opened by the end of the year? He hopes that the issue will be resolved as soon as possible.
TATEV HARUTYUNYAN
