“The service is carried out by border guard troops. The RA Armed Forces are performing their tasks in their predetermined areas,” said Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, Edward Asryan, during a press conference at the RA National Assembly.
When asked, “Didn’t the RA Armed Forces have positions in those areas that came under the control of Azerbaijan?” Asryan responded, “You are already forcing me to say that you should not ask me those questions.”
The Chief of the General Staff warned the journalists, “Do not talk loudly with me.” Despite this, one journalist insisted: did the RA have positions in the territories that came under the control of Azerbaijan? Asryan answered: “For the protection of the armed forces, they don’t mark a position, they mark a contour, section, district, base for the armed forces. And as for the positions, you are asking me a question about the tactical ring… We are standing in our defined, predetermined areas and we are fulfilling the tasks set before us.”
Journalists inquired whether the army had returned. Asryan answered, “We have various infrastructures in every place, in every operational direction, for the implementation of the tasks of the armed forces. The border guard troops are fulfilling the tasks set before them in that area.”
Read also
To clarify whether the army is no longer in the Kirants region, the head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia answered: “The army is there, the army cannot leave anywhere because the border guard troops, where they carry out their service, is also the area of responsibility of the army, where we are ready to carry out protection.” When asked if only border guard troops are in those areas, Asryan responded: “No. Border guards carry out service at the border, but in this direction, the Armed Forces have regular units that are ready to perform the tasks set before them.”
The head of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces was upset by the questions related to the handing over of land, saying, “Don’t ask me such a question.” When asked if he was sure that the territories handed over to Azerbaijan were not de jure territories of the Republic of Armenia, he answered: “Yes, I am sure. I don’t claim, the border claims it, which is reflected on our maps.” In response to the rebuttal about property certificates issued to residents, Asryan said: “That is not our function. I claim that there is a border where the borders of the republic are determined. I have maps called geographic maps. The border is reflected on them, and whether a civilian or a legal entity has a land, house, or structure inside or outside that border, that is not the activity of the Armed Forces.”
The journalists reminded Asryan that he had announced that the Azerbaijanis should withdraw from the Jermuk sector and asked when they would withdraw. He said: “When you study the military activities, such as the blockade, the withdrawal from the blockade, etc., then you will address the question to me.”
One of the journalists said, “Are we specialists, are we experts? You made such a statement. We ask you why they didn’t withdraw from Jermuk” Asryan, addressing the journalist, said: “You personally take weapons, come stand next to me, and we will go together.” The journalist replied that it was not their responsibility to resolve the issue and that it was Asryan who had said they would leave. Asryan, waving to the journalist, said: “Listen, look at what I’m telling you, don’t force me to give an answer, and don’t provoke me, give me a way to pass.”
