Vazgen Manukyan Outlines Necessary Steps to Resolve Situation in Armenia and Artsakh

The first step is the trilateral agreement. We will never reconcile with that document, but we cannot reject it; doing so would mean war with Azerbaijan and Turkey and also lead to conflicts with Russian peacekeeping forces. The second issue is security, which also includes our special relations with Russia. In this region, if you are not connected with Russia, then you are left with Turkey.

This was stated by opposition prime ministerial candidate Vazgen Manukyan during a rally demanding the resignation of Nikol Pashinyan at Liberty Square.

It is very significant that we are gathered today in the square where in 1988 our people united with great faith and vowed to build an independent, free, and just state, reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Artsakh, promising them security and reunification with Armenia.

“We built an independent state—despite all its flaws, we built it, we won the war. The armies of Armenia and Artsakh were considered the strongest in the region; collaborating with the diaspora, we were increasing our influence in the international arena. Now we have gathered again in this old square 30 years later, wounded in dignity, with significant human and territorial losses, and everything we did for the issue of Artsakh is almost lost, but Armenia is also in danger; even the existence of Armenia is now at stake as Azerbaijanis decide Armenia's borders, entering the territory without encountering any resistance from our state bodies. Is this the situation we want to adapt to?” he declared.

According to Manukyan, all the issues raised in 1988 have been placed back on the agenda and must be solved. “We have turned against each other, we have become enemies—the Armenians from Armenia against those from Artsakh, the old against the new, black against white, honest against dishonest. One of Nikol's first steps was to decapitate the Artsakh army. The Armenian army was being discredited; we lost all our allies and went forward alone, while Nikol Pashinyan’s inconsistent, contradictory, provocative statements brought us closer to war every day,” he emphasized, noting that from the very first day of the war, there were ill-considered and treasonous decisions, leading us to this point.

“We could have prevented the war, we could have won it, and we could have ended it quickly with minimal losses. None of this happened, and now we face the second disgrace—no people in the world can understand the Armenians, that the leader who consistently led them to defeat is still at the helm. Such a thing does not exist in the world,” he stated. Manukyan emphasized that Pashinyan's removal is not just a matter of dignity; every day of his rule pushes us back for months. “They are people who are of no use for anything. The sooner we remove them, the faster we will return to the path we started in 1988 to achieve victories. Nikol Pashinyan must understand that the sooner he resigns voluntarily, the better for him. If the movement fails, the enraged people will devour him. This movement is the path that allows him to change the situation in Armenia in a civilized manner. If it fails, it will be worse, but in any case, he will have to leave,” Manukyan declared.

He outlined what issues must be resolved in parallel after the formation of a transitional government. “We will never reconcile with the signed agreement, we will not reject it, but it exists. Rejecting it would mean war. We must turn ambiguities to Armenia's advantage. Second, the issue of security—restore the army, combat readiness. Restore allied relations. If a coalition against Turkey is created, we will be part of it. Enter into the negotiation process. Resolve issues concerning missing persons, prisoners, families of fallen soldiers, refugees,” he said.

Continuing his speech, Vazgen Manukyan emphasized the need for a healthy atmosphere in Armenia. “External forces operating in Armenia are deliberately dividing our people and have been solving their geopolitical issues over the past 2.5 years by using us as a toy; we must clear that field,” he said. Manukyan mentioned that from every defeat begins the next victory, and we must stand up, be confident, and move forward in a short time. “Nikol Pashinyan should either leave voluntarily or be forced to leave,” he added.