The interlocutor of “Aravot” is Gagik Avanesyan, a member of the initiative group of the “Headquarters of the People’s Movement for Unblocking the Kashatagh Corridor,” a participant of the Artsakh movement.
– Mr. Avanesyan, a member of the initiative group of the “Headquarters of the People’s Movement to Unblock the Corridor,” Arthur Osipyan, stated that the authorities of Artsakh are taking the protests in the wrong direction. The Headquarters initiated a process so that the people of Artsakh would go to the Hakari Bridge in a large group, in a column, and demand to open the corridor. What processes are taking place? Will it be possible to ensure this mobilization?
– The authorities will always hope for some other light developments until the last moment because it is natural that today the rules are responsible for Artsakh. We should accept that as a fact. Our proposed version is one of the ways to start that movement. Our march, which we are talking about, is real; we are sure that it is the way to solve the issue. Now the cargo convoy has arrived from Armenia, and they don’t let it go, and look what noise it made. Sooner or later, those burdens will be released, but look at what favorable actions are taking place for us in the world. They have found themselves in a position to let go; it is terrible for them, not to let go is worse.
– In other words, should we take advantage of this situation?
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– Undoubtedly, this will give results. The same applies to our movement. We are ready to implement it right now. As Osipyan said, we will take our humanitarian cargo from there. We favor another option: to act a little faster, and the authorities are afraid. It is a question of responsibility; perhaps they must still be ready.
– How do you imagine implementing your proposed option: you will go to the Hakari Bridge in a convoy with a large group, then how will you force the corridor to open?
– At least five thousand people should join our movement. We will enter there, we don’t have to pass, but we can also pass without showing any documents. We will deliver the decision of the International Court, the paper about the status of the corridor, according to which they are there illegally. The five km wide corridor is extraterritorial; it is not their land, they should not be there.
According to the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, if Armenia and Artsakh do not have a border, then the corridor is for Armenians; it is considered Armenian territory. And the gas pipeline and power line must pass through the Armenian territory. We will demand to return to the Berdzor Corridor because our communications pass through there. We have to pass by our old road until new transmissions are built in the area of the new road. And it is emphasized in the PACE decision.
– What political developments are taking place in Artsakh? NA Speaker Arthur Tovmasyan submitted his resignation.
– I consider it positive because our National Assembly was an incomprehensible structure; there was no possibility to have any practical discussion and find a solution. In the beginning, our same movement proposed that the National Assembly declare that the Russian troops are not fulfilling their duties and turn to the international community to send additional international peacekeeping forces. In other words, if the troops of one Minsk Group Co-Chair country are here, then the co-chair troops of the other two countries must also be here. But they said oppositely that the Russian peacekeepers should be given an international mandate. And the Russians said: we don’t need a mandate; who told you that we need a mandate? In other words, they can fulfill their duties but don’t want to; that’s the problem.
There are five factions in the National Assembly, each of which has its own “owner” who decides how to vote. No persons with a political position in the parliament are against or abstain during voting. That is the most shameful situation. Perhaps one faction that can be considered a political force is Dashnaktsutyun-Armenian Revolutionary Federation. And if their representative, Davit Ishkhanyan, becomes the Speaker of the National Assembly, he is one of the few people in the parliament who understands what politics is. And I hope that the National Assembly becomes a political body.
Additionally, the Dashnaktsutyun may direct its potential not to the black-white games inside Armenia but take steps to unite around Artsakh and solve this issue. Apparently, the Dashnaktsutyun has agreed with Arayik Harutyunyan’s “Free Motherland” party that by becoming the majority together, they can make any decision without negotiating and trading with anyone. Therefore, I evaluate these developments positively.
Roza HOVHANNISYAN
