No Clause on Demarcation in November 10 Declaration, But It’s a Logical Continuation Says Security Council Secretary

Currently, demarcation is taking place in Syunik, which involves clarifying the border not only in Syunik but also between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This was stated by the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, during a report on Public TV.

Asked whether this process is direct or if Russia is playing a mediating role, Grigoryan noted that it varies: sometimes it is direct and sometimes mediated.

When asked whether there are lands that are within Azerbaijan’s territory and need to be returned to Armenia, Grigoryan replied: “The Republic of Armenia has a neighbor with which demarcation has not yet occurred. In this case, the demarcation process will naturally be a somewhat painful process. The territory in Syunik has been under the complete control of the Defense Army since 1994. In other words, such a question has not even arisen since 1994. Only as a result of this war have certain clarifications been made in the process of demarcation.”

In response to a comment that Grigoryan had claimed that what is happening in Syunik and Kapan is based on some documents, while Nikol Pashinyan has stated that there is no additional document, only the declaration, the Security Council Secretary emphasized: “Naturally, it is only the declaration. By saying a document, I meant the documents established during the Soviet era.”

Regarding whether the land is being divided based on the map from 1985, Grigoryan responded that demarcation is a difficult process. He stated, “To introduce complete clarifications, negotiations are sometimes necessary; there are places where negotiations take place, and there are places that are clearer to a certain extent. We must understand that we need to have some pillar because we cannot carry out demarcation based on any document from the 18th or 19th century, nor can we conduct it based on any document after 1991, because such a document does not exist. We have tried to find any document that we could use as a basis because if it is not carried out based on a document, the interpretations can be very different.”

When asked what the basis for the demarcation is, and whether there is such a clause in the declaration that Armenia and Azerbaijan must carry out demarcation, Grigoryan said it is a logical continuation. “It cannot be that there will be no demarcation. We are definitely more interested in demarcation.”

In response to concerns that this still yields lands to Azerbaijan, while questioning what it provides for Armenia, Grigoryan stated it is essential to understand the context of the war's outcomes and the current situation. “At that time, there were no such clarifications, for example, in Tavush, it can be said that demarcations mainly exist because those clarifications were made during the first Nagorno-Karabakh war, but in parts of Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik, there has never been such a necessity, and today there is that necessity. Due to understandable reasons, the threats in Syunik are somewhat greater than they have been, which is why there is also a Russian presence there,” he noted.

When questioned why Armenia entered this process if there is nothing written in the agreement, the Security Council Secretary responded that there is a necessity for it. “There are places where we are also negotiating; there are positions where we are in a favorable situation,” he pointed out.

Addressing whether he sees a risk in Azerbaijan taking prisoners from Armenia to later exchange for lands, Grigoryan responded that the agenda has never included discussions of “land for prisoners.” He stated, “The issue of prisoners is the most delicate. We all wish for the prisoners to return as soon as possible. Right now, we are negotiating to ensure the return of the prisoners.”

On the question of why community leaders have negotiated with Azerbaijanis, Grigoryan explained that any organization under greater burden than before may not be able to fulfill its tasks 100% in certain cases. “After the village heads, military personnel also appear after some time. Armenia's border has increased by 500 km, which has hindered our ability to resolve all issues at once,” he concluded.