Artsakh Realizes Its Right to Self-Determination: Mnatsakanyan

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, gave an interview to the BBC News.

Question: Mr. Minister, my first question concerns Azerbaijan's accusations that Armenia's actions have provoked this conflict.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Armenia and Artsakh have no interest or intention to escalate the situation. We have rejected the option of a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Therefore, it is entirely unacceptable to engage in this game of accusations. The attack against Nagorno-Karabakh and the tensions remain extremely high.

Question: When you say that the tension is high, do you consider the possibility of it escalating into a large-scale war?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: We must make every possible effort to avoid this, as it would lead to destabilization of the entire region, which we reject. I would like to emphasize once again that we reject the military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

Question: When you say you reject the military option, what steps are you taking to demonstrate this?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: At this moment, the defense forces of Artsakh have no choice but to defend themselves, as they are currently responding to large-scale attacks from the Azerbaijani armed forces along the line of contact between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. The primary task now is to repel the Azerbaijani forces’ attacks and compel them to return to the negotiating table.

Question: Civilians have been killed as a result of the latest flare-up of the conflict. Do you acknowledge that this area is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Artsakh is exercising its right to self-determination. Artsakh is historical territory of Armenia. The Armenian population of Artsakh has been subjected to massive discrimination during the entire period when it was transferred to Azerbaijan by the decision of the Bolshevik government.

Question: So the answer to that question is “no.” You do not accept, as the rest of the world does, that Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: The status of Artsakh is one of the key issues in the negotiating package; it is a crucial issue that needs to be resolved through negotiations and compromise.

Question: You must be very concerned that this could escalate into a very dangerous, serious, and proxy war. Turkish President Erdoğan not only supports Azerbaijan but has also said that Armenia is the greatest threat to peace in the region.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: President Erdoğan and Turkey have been the most destabilizing factor in this entire situation. Turkey is effectively exporting its influence and implementing destabilizing policies, which we have witnessed all around Turkey—from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Middle East. They are, in fact, exporting that destabilization to the South Caucasus region. We do not welcome this, and we categorically reject it.

Question: It is quite clear that Azerbaijani structures and officials are very concerned about the large amount of Russian weaponry sent to Armenia. Is Russia currently supplying weapons to Armenia?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Armenia is doing everything to ensure that it has all capabilities to defend itself. Armenia is the only guarantor of Artsakh's security. And we are working with various partners.

Question: So does this mean “yes” when it comes to receiving weapons from Russia?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: We are working with numerous international partners to ensure that Armenia has adequate capabilities for its defense. And it is simply absurd to hear such accusations from Azerbaijan, which spends billions to arm itself, demonstrating its intention to resolve this conflict through military means.

Question: How concerned are you that there might be Turkish intervention, physical intervention in this conflict?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: That is a greater risk, which would be a complete disaster for the entire region. It is not welcome in this region.

Question: And what would your response be if that were to happen?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: In that case, we would have no choice but to confront the enemy directly.

Question: Is the enemy Turkey?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: If they act accordingly.

Question: And in this context, how much does Armenia rely on Russia?

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Armenia relies on Russia, and relies on all its other partners with which it cooperates in defense matters. Armenia works with many other partners. And they must remember that the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is taking place in an internationally recognized format under the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, which consists of Russia, France, and the USA. Each of these countries has a very important role in restraining any escalation of tensions, any deterioration of the situation. And we work very closely with all our partners, including, in particular, the co-chairing countries.

Question: It is assumed that when your Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, a new impetus would be given to the long-stalled peace negotiations. Yet it turns out that he adopts the same uncompromising position towards Azerbaijan.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Since 2018, we have engaged in the negotiations process with strong determination. However, what we continue to face from Azerbaijan is its maximalist position, which fundamentally dismisses the interests and security concerns of Artsakh and Armenia.

The full interview is available at the following link.