Our Position is to Find a Solution: Zohrab Mnatsakanyan's Interview with Al Jazeera

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan gave an interview to Al Jazeera. Below is the presentation of the interview.

Question: The civilian population has found itself at the center of these battles. What efforts are being made to put an end to this?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Since July 12, there have been very dangerous developments in recent days, with attempts by Azerbaijani forces to penetrate Armenian territory in the northeastern part of Armenia using heavy artillery, thereby increasing the risk of tension that we currently face. Currently, efforts to reduce tension are our top priority. This is what we are working towards, and it is what we are working on with the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, which includes France, Russia, and the USA. This is our current priority. We need to reduce tension. Armenia has the capability to defend itself, and Armenia is the guarantor of the security of Artsakh; war is not an option. The peace process has no alternative. We remain committed to this and will work towards de-escalating the situation and creating an environment that will promote peace and facilitate the negotiating process.

Question: What details can you provide about the efforts aimed at reducing tension? What process is being implemented, and how quickly will it happen, considering that people are dying due to the ongoing battles?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: I must say it is quite encouraging that in the last, we can say, 12-14 hours, we have relative calm. We are in constant contact with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, and other partners, including the USA and France. We are trying to find ways to maintain this relative calm and to reaffirm the ceasefire regime that was established in 1994 and has remained in full force since then—a document signed by Armenia, Artsakh, and Azerbaijan. Therefore, the complete restoration of the ceasefire regime is our priority.

Question: There were reports that Armenia requested the CSTO to convene on this issue and take action, but its response seems to have been somewhat vague. What is Armenia's stance on that response?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: I would disagree with that assessment. Armenia is a member of the CSTO. It is a Collective Security Treaty Organization, and we clearly raise issues that pertain to the CSTO area, of which Armenia is a part. We inform our partners about the developments and raise questions that we deem necessary for collective action in cases like this one. Clearly, as an Organization, we have the entire toolkit at our disposal, but we assess the situation, evaluate the necessary actions, and maintain contact and a consistent dialogue with our CSTO partners.

Question: In 2019 there were negotiations aimed at providing a certain solution to this issue. It is known that the Prime Minister of Armenia at that time stated, 'Artsakh is part of Armenia,' and he wanted to change the format of negotiations, which presumably significantly undermined the negotiation process. What share of responsibility does Armenia bear for the failure to ensure continuity in these negotiations?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Again, I would not agree with such an assessment, as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia has clearly expressed that Armenia is the guarantor of the security of Artsakh, and Armenia bears responsibility for the security and physical existence of our compatriots in Artsakh. We remain committed to the peaceful process, and it is evident that Armenia has its development agenda, Armenia has an agenda to protect the well-being of its people. Artsakh and its population find themselves in unfavorable conditions; every effort is being made to isolate them from the outside world, which is unacceptable, and Armenia is evidently working in every way to ensure that the people of Artsakh can live in conditions of security, peace, and development. It is precisely in this context. However, let me emphasize that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been very consistent in his statements about the fact that peace will be possible when we reach a compromise solution that will be acceptable to all peoples: the peoples of Armenia, Artsakh, and Azerbaijan. And we still expect mutuality from the Azerbaijani leadership based on a compromise approach, as we are currently witnessing an expansionist approach that does not take into account the fundamental priorities of Armenia and Artsakh. Thus, our position is to find a solution that will be acceptable to all, and we are working in that direction.