Candidates for Artsakh Presidency Respond to Prime Minister's Remarks on Nagorno-Karabakh Resolution

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed reporters today regarding the document that was on the negotiating table when he took office. He mentioned that he was presented with a document concerning the objectives of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which included a provision for the return of seven regions of Artsakh, provided that the corridor linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia is maintained, and through a universal vote representing the free expression of the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh, the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh would be determined within the agreed timeframes between the parties.

According to the document, the displaced persons would leave the territories of five regions, and Azerbaijanis would enter these areas after the deployment of peacekeepers, and so on. Pashinyan posed the question: “At the moment, if the Republic of Armenia wishes to continue the negotiations from this very point, the international community will not create any problems. Now let all the candidates for the presidency of Artsakh say whether this text is acceptable to them or not.”

The candidates for the presidency of Artsakh responded to the Prime Minister's inquiry. Former Prime Minister and presidential candidate of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, stated that the version cited by the Prime Minister regarding the resolution of the Azerbaijan-Artsakh conflict is unacceptable for his political team and, he is convinced, for the people as well.

Artsakh National Assembly Chairman and presidential candidate Ashot Ghulyan also made a statement in response to the Prime Minister's remarks. He emphasized that the independence of Artsakh is the minimum status and that unification with the Motherland is the ultimate goal; the current territory of the Republic of Artsakh is the only reliable guarantee for the security of the Artsakh people, which is non-negotiable.

Artsakh Foreign Minister and presidential candidate Masis Mayilyan also reacted to the Prime Minister's statement, noting: “I accept the ‘challenge’ from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and once again express my firm position regarding the main principles proposed by mediators in the political resolution process of the Azerbaijan-Artsakh conflict. In July 2009, I was the first to respond critically to the three principles and six elements published for resolution, pointing out the dangers and challenges arising from their implementation, and I still hold the same opinion today. The link below will allow for a detailed acquaintance with my position. Throughout the years, both at the expert level and during my tenure as Foreign Minister in meetings with mediators, as well as in public speeches and interviews, I have repeatedly stated that the proposed principles are outdated and in need of revision.”