International Community Must Recognize Artsakh's Independence in Current Situation: Pashinyan

According to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, if the international community wants to prevent the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from escalating further, it must decisively recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan made these remarks during an interview with Euronews.

“The Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh is currently under existential threat, as all settlements in the region are subjected to constant rocket attacks. If we want to stop the humanitarian disaster, if we want to prevent this conflict from escalating into a larger scale, the international community must demonstrate resolve and recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Pashinyan.

Pashinyan noted that strikes by the Artsakh Defense Army against Azerbaijan’s military targets were in response to the Azerbaijani shelling of civilian areas in Artsakh and were solely of a self-defensive nature. “Strikes have been carried out by the Artsakh Defense Army, and the government of Artsakh has clearly stated that this retaliatory action was taken solely out of necessity, as it was the only way to try to stop the rocket attacks on Artsakh settlements from Azerbaijan,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Pashinyan added that the Armenian side desires peace, but that does not mean it should stand by and wait to be subjected to genocide. “The actions in Artsakh are absolutely self-defensive. We have no option but to protect the Armenian people from yet another genocide; our goal is self-defense,” Pashinyan stated.