Ruben Vardanyan, answering a straightforward question on the live broadcast of the Artsakh public television company about why it became inevitable to dismiss him from the position of Minister of State of Artsakh, answered: “That question should be addressed to the President. I can say that the rumors about my resignation appeared in December. A stranger has come with his ambitions and rules. Of course, the quiet lives of many were disrupted. We blocked many people from getting much funding. And I think some of them celebrate it now in the evenings.”
And whether there was pressure from outside, specifically from Azerbaijan, on the occasion of which they say that it was treason that Azerbaijan demanded and the President of Artsakh signed, Ruben Vardanyan answered the clarifying question that he never thought that his surname would be discussed in the Security Council. , in the UN or the European Parliament.
“But Azerbaijan decided to personify the entire situation around Artsakh as much as possible. I don’t understand why because, by and large, what I said and am saying, the President also said in his speech that he and the majority of people working in the leadership of the Republic of Artsakh share the same views regarding the red lines, that we will not integrate with Azerbaijan, that we will live side by side, but not together. Different events may have occurred. First, the arrival of a person like me to Artsakh was unexpected, which became the reason for a conspiracy hypothesis. It is impossible for a person to be a patriot, to come to his country and be concerned about what was happening in Artsakh.
Secondly, I want to remind you that even in the summer of last year, the Azerbaijani side said it would not hold any negotiations with the Armenian side because the people of Artsakh are their citizens. But six months have passed, and you see that they announced they are ready to hold negotiations, not with Vardanyan, but with the representatives of the Armenian population of Artsakh, that there can be negotiations in the Baku-Stepanakert format. I believe Azerbaijan is not ready for serious negotiations and would like everything to be done by force. I have had many opportunities to interact with the greats, including at meetings of Yevgeny Primakov and Henry Kissinger – people representing two countries with opposing views willing to communicate.
Read also
You know, it’s easier to negotiate between two equal parties than to force one on the other and end up with something incomprehensible. Coming to Artsakh, I was sure from the beginning that I could move the dialogue to an ordinary course. But it backfired. I repeat, the question should be addressed to the President.
He made the decision and weighed all the facts. In his speech, he mentioned why he made that decision. That is not the right decision, and I have spoken about it. But not for the position. I did not come to Artsakh for the post of a state minister. My goal is to help Artsakh maintain its independence. If I help with my actions, it’s perfect; if I hinder, I have to leave. The President decides that,” said the former State Minister.
Ashot HAKOBYAN
