VIDEO: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Interview with TASS News Agency

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has given an interview to the Russian news agency TASS. Below is the translation of the interview.

TASS - Mr. Prime Minister, lately you have given numerous interviews to various mass media around the world. However, the situation in the region continues to change rapidly. Therefore, we would like to focus on what we believe are the most fundamental, key points that are not particularly subject to change and can help our readers better understand Armenia's approaches to the urgent resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Do you see a possibility of returning to the agreed ceasefire in Moscow, or has it permanently collapsed?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - You mentioned international mass media. I would like to emphasize that I believe the opinion of the international community is changing at this moment. It is changing, and people are becoming more informed about what is happening in our region. And, of course, this is related not only to the active informational policy of our government but also to the active actions being undertaken by the Armenian diaspora.

And I want to emphasize that, indeed, at a not high or highest political level, but certain shifts in the process of international recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh are already noticeable. Quite a few US states and a number of European cities have already adopted relevant documents, resolutions, and decisions. Several European parliaments have already adopted resolutions condemning Azerbaijan's aggression.

Today, there is virtually no doubt in the international community that Turkey is fully involved in military operations and that Turkey has been the main initiator of this war. That Turkey has hired and transferred terrorists and mercenaries from Syria to the conflict zone. Unfortunately, we are already seeing that some of these mercenaries are being transferred to the North Caucasus, directly onto Russian territory. We are already witnessing the activity of terrorist groups. And I am convinced that this is not a coincidence, as the processes currently taking place in and around Nagorno-Karabakh have already gone beyond the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. This is already a situation that touches upon national security issues not only of our region but also of many other countries beyond the region.

And I am confident that we have not yet managed to implement the Moscow statement because there are forces that are obstructing it, very specific obstacles. And the first of all is Turkey. Turkey is interested in the collapse of the Moscow statement for two reasons: Turkey’s actions aim to expel Russia from the South Caucasus. Let us not forget that this statement was adopted by the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation. Some forces, specifically Turkey, are interested in the failure of Russia's initiative. And thereby, they hope to also undermine Russia's reputation in the South Caucasus.

I believe we all understand what is happening, and it is necessary to work persistently to restore stability in our region. Of course, we will work very closely with Russia on this issue and hope that the other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will also support those efforts.

TASS - Mr. Prime Minister, Russia continues to stress the necessity of organizing an immediate meeting between military representatives to harmonize the ceasefire monitoring mechanism. Is Armenia in agreement with such a meeting? In what format and with which parties' participation is Armenia in agreement?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Frankly, such an initiative has already taken place, and consultations were scheduled in Moscow, which were expected to involve military representatives from Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Our representatives went to Moscow and did their work. However, according to my information, representatives of the Azerbaijani military department have so far not participated in this format, which may mean that they are simply refusing to do so. I cannot say, but the fact is that, according to my information, they have not gone to Moscow to participate in those consultations up to now.

TASS - About peace: Are you prepared to start the phased transfer of the 7 regions adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, preserving the Lachin corridor for Armenia until the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh is determined?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – You know, I have said many times, and this is the official position of Armenia throughout all times, that the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, i.e., the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, has a strategic significance for us. You just mentioned an option. I know that Armenia was prepared for a similar resolution several years ago. However, there was nuance – what would happen with the status of Nagorno-Karabakh?

TASS – Are you referring to the Kazan agreement?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Including the Kazan initiative. But I want to say that I do not consider it particularly wise and pragmatic to pursue a resolution by focusing on certain key points and neglecting other important points. It is important to understand how Azerbaijan responds to the same or similar issue: are they ready to recognize the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh?

TASS - Is Armenia in agreement with the deployment of Russian military observers in the region to ensure ceasefire and security guarantees? If not Russian ones, which other countries could participate in such a mission? Which countries does Armenia categorically oppose?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - You know, I have already said that our representatives have participated and agreed on a joint action program concerning the monitoring of the ceasefire regime. In other words, we have already done our part of the work with our Russian partners. And I said that it is Azerbaijan that has not participated in those efforts so far.

Regarding the countries that could participate: Russia is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and it is clear to us that the other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group support Russia’s efforts to restore stability in the region. And regarding the participation of any country, I believe those countries have already been mentioned, those that should actively participate in the process. That is Russia, which is the most active participant in this process, as well as the other co-chairing countries of the Minsk Group that also participate. As to how much and how actively each should participate, that is a matter of agreement between the co-chairing countries. Armenia does not object because the format of the co-chairing of the OSCE Minsk Group is acceptable to Armenia. At this moment, our obvious position is that Turkey, which has practically become the main provocateur of this war, should not participate in peacekeeping or peace processes in any way, because it is clear that Turkey is not interested in peace.

TASS - Russia expressed concern about reports of militants being transported from the Middle East, particularly from Syria and Libya, to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. How do you comment on this?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – I have already spoken about this. It cannot be a coincidence that after the escalation of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, amid reports that these mercenaries participate in the war against Nagorno-Karabakh, there is information, including in mass media from Arab countries, that certain groups have been defeated on the battlefield, scattered among different sides. It is obvious to me that some of the militants from Syria – Russia has already officially stated that they are Syrian militants – some parts of those defeated groups or individual figures are being directly transported to Russia because I think they also consider Russia an enemy, just like Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. The question is how this whole process will continue. Will Russia wait for all these elements to be transported to its territory, and there conduct anti-terror operations? I do not know; perhaps the possibility of conducting an anti-terror operation on the spot is being discussed in the Russian government or special services?

TASS - Both in Nagorno-Karabakh and in Russia?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Yes, that includes both Nagorno-Karabakh and Russia. Russia has conducted anti-terror operations in Syria, which is quite far from Russia. Because the actions of Syrian militants and terrorists posed a direct threat to Russia’s national security. Now, Russian experts – I, of course, do not know how accurate this calculation is – say that they are located at a distance of up to 80 kilometers from the Russian border. This is already a completely different situation. And I believe that Russia has the legitimate right and ground to respond to that situation.

TASS - In the last 26 years, the world has not understood what a final agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the future of Nagorno-Karabakh might look like at least in general terms. How do you see this future? Are you ready to make concessions for the sake of peace, or not?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - We are ready for compromise. We have always said that. And for us, the starting point of compromise is the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. If Azerbaijan agrees to compromise on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, then we can say that there are preconditions for compromise.

TASS - A meeting of foreign ministers took place in Moscow, thanks to the agreement of the three countries' leaders. Are you yourself ready to come to Moscow to meet with your colleague, mediated by the Russian Federation?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – I have already said that we have always said that the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh should be resolved exclusively through peaceful means. Unfortunately, it is Azerbaijan that does not agree with this viewpoint. Our position is that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved exclusively through peaceful means. And I am ready to make all necessary efforts to achieve such a result, including going, meeting, talking. But we all must understand that the solution should be based on compromise. Not on the capitulation of one side, but on compromise. By the way, if there is no willingness on the other side to compromise, we are ready to fight until the end for the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, for the rights of our compatriots. This is the stance of the Armenian government, the Armenian people, and the Armenian diaspora. And I believe this is an honest and constructive position.

TASS - Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for the interview.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan – Thank you.