Baku Seeks to Return to Status Quo Before the 1991 Independence War, Says Prime Minister

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which we present below.

“The return of the Turks to the South Caucasus means the resumption of the Armenian Genocide that occurred a century ago when the Ottoman Empire massacred 1.5 million people,” claims Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. “Azerbaijan's aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, encouraged by Turkey, is a terrorist war against a people fighting for their freedom,” Pashinyan continues.

La Repubblica: Mr. Prime Minister, you just returned from the front lines. What is the situation there?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Azerbaijanis are indiscriminately shelling cities and villages, especially targeting the civilian population, which is forced to leave their homes seeking refuge in shelters. Meanwhile, intense battles are ongoing at the front, but Armenians are resisting, and I can say that the Azerbaijani army has not achieved any strategic success.

La Repubblica: Do you confirm Ankara's direct involvement?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: I believe this is already a proven fact, and it is supported simply by looking at the public statements. Not to mention that The New York Times published yesterday about the presence of Turkish F-16 fighters at Ganja Airport. We have been warning that Turkish F-16s are involved in military operations, which was denied, but ultimately proved to be true. It is also very important to note the public statements made by high-ranking Turkish officials. Let me provide one example: the presidents and foreign ministers of the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire, while Turkey declares hope that Azerbaijan will not cease military operations. On the other hand, Turkey declares that it stands by Azerbaijan both diplomatically and on the battlefield.

La Repubblica: What do you say about the Syrian terrorists on the front lines?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: It is now internationally recognized that Turkey has brought jihadists from Syria to assist Azerbaijan. This is why battles are also taking place against terrorism, along a front where barbarism opposes civilization. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are the last obstacles to Ankara's expansionism, and if the international community does not intervene promptly, it will soon see Turks at the gates of Vienna, as was the case in the 17th century with the Ottomans.

La Repubblica: What do you expect from the international community?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: First and foremost, recognize that Nagorno-Karabakh is under attack by Azerbaijan, whose troops conducted drills with Turkish forces for a month. The danger posed by the jihadists present in the combat zone must be acknowledged. It must be noted that the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh is under threat of genocide, and the way to stop this threat is for the international community and European countries to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.

La Repubblica: Will Moscow intervene soon, let's say if Armenia mediates? What expectations do you have from Mr. Putin?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Russia has certain security contractual obligations towards Armenia, which must be activated under specific conditions and circumstances. In the event of the appropriate circumstances arising, I am confident that Russia will fulfill its contractual obligations to secure Armenia. I also want to note that Russia is also a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is the only format in which negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue are taking place. This must also be taken into account. The President of the Russian Federation also stated yesterday that Russia will fulfill its security obligations to Armenia if such a need arises.

La Repubblica: Aren't Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh the same nation?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: We are the same people ethnically—there is no difference. We speak the same language, share the same religion. There is simply no difference between Armenians living in Armenia and those in Karabakh.

La Repubblica: Nagorno-Karabakh has been independent for almost 30 years. Why has no state in the world recognized it, including Armenia?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Armenia is a different case. We are certainly discussing that possibility, but in the context of Armenia's recognition, very little will change internationally because we have de facto recognized it and have relations. It is the recognition by other countries that will change the situation regarding international law and conflict resolution. For this reason, I believe that the most effective diplomatic means of stopping this terrorist onslaught is the recognition of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh's independence by the international community.

La Repubblica: What is Nagorno-Karabakh willing to concede?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Nagorno-Karabakh has always stated that it is ready for compromise, but Azerbaijan has never wanted to negotiate. The last time was in 2014 when Baku refused to sign a potential peace treaty because it would mean recognizing the right of the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. Baku wants to return to the status quo that existed before the independence war of 1991.

La Repubblica: It must not be easy for you as a pacifist to go to a war zone with a helmet and uniform, as you say you are inspired by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Mandela.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: When there is a terrorist attack, you must respond, and today, Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh must defend their right to life. Certainly, there needs to be international community involvement; otherwise, the jihadist threat will spread everywhere, because I am convinced that Azerbaijanis are unable to control the Islamists assigned to them by Ankara. According to our intelligence data, when they arrived in Azerbaijan, they primarily attempted to prohibit the sale of alcohol and impose sharia rules.

La Repubblica: This war has drawn you in personally, too.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Yes, because my son, who is 20 years old, just volunteered for the front lines.