Current Administrative Boundaries of Communities Determined by 2010 Armenian Law: Prime Minister Visits Syunik Province

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Syunik Province today. The first stop of the Prime Minister's visit was the community of Sarnakunk. Nikol Pashinyan met with the residents of Sarnakunk, discussed their concerns regarding the demarcation works being carried out in Syunik Province, and answered the questions of the community members.

Pashinyan spoke about the six soldiers who had been missing for 70 days in areas now under Azerbaijani control and returned home yesterday, stating that their return is a bright point during these difficult times. “Today is a day of mourning, and as part of a three-day mourning period, we honor the memory of our fallen soldiers. I want us to be worthy of our fallen soldiers. We are now in situations of aftershocks, and we must do everything to stabilize the situation, return our captives, and search for our missing persons. Something very important happened yesterday—the group of our six soldiers who were stranded in the forests was evacuated. Although today is a day of mourning, it has changed the mood. In this mourning, we are all looking for a bright point to build our optimism around. The first group of captives that returned also changed the atmosphere somewhat,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister pointed out that our army is heroic, and there can be no two opinions about that, which at the same time does not mean that there were not separate incidents or problems. “This does not mean that there has not been a soldier who did not do something right, that there has not been an officer who did not do something right, or that there has not been a general who did not do something right. But overall, this should not affect our assessment. And we must build our self-confidence and optimism grain by grain; we must rebuild our country, Armenia and Artsakh, anew,” emphasized the Prime Minister.

After Sarnakunk, Nikol Pashinyan headed to the community of Sisian. The Prime Minister visited the Sisian city pantheon and paid tribute to the memory of heroes who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the Homeland during the Artsakh war by kneeling and laying flowers on their graves.

Subsequently, the Prime Minister had a meeting with citizens gathered in the central square of Sisian. In his address to the residents of Sisian, Nikol Pashinyan stated, “The actual purpose of the visit is to communicate with the people of Syunik, and I want to thank Sisian for such understanding and reception. The most important thing I want to say today is that I have also come to clarify what is happening along the borders of Syunik. Of course, we need to analyze what has happened. But first, before starting the substantive conversation, I suggest that we observe a moment of silence to honor the memory of our fallen soldiers and agree that from this moment onward, there will be no applause, shouts, or any such thing. However, there is also an important message and conversation that I want you to definitely hear.”

The Prime Minister observed a minute of silence with those present in honor of the soldiers who died in the Artsakh war. Addressing the current situation around Syunik and the various news circulated regarding it, the Prime Minister noted, “Today, there is much talk that what is happening at the borders of Syunik is a process of handing over Syunik and putting its security at risk. In fact, it is the exact opposite. Because as I said that day in my address, the issue is that when we stop our border troops in accordance with the borders of Armenia, we are strengthening our level of security because the border of the Republic of Armenia also becomes the border of the security system of which we are a member. Now, the next question that arises is this: We are asked why we are stopping at that border, who has decided, and what is the legal basis for that decision? Such questions are also asked by individuals who were members of the National Assembly in 2010, who have held various official positions.

The point is that today’s boundaries, the description of our community administrative boundaries were determined by the Law on Administrative-Territorial Division of the Republic of Armenia, which was adopted in 2010. In that law, for example, the description of the administrative boundaries of the communities of Nerkhin Khndzoresk and Tegh is also indicated as the border with Azerbaijan. This was set in 2010. The government adopted this law, which described all our problematic borders that were depicted from one side describing the neighboring community and from the other side the border of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Was I able to present this? Now in those years, people who were members of the government and the National Assembly are telling us why we are stopping at those points, are you recognizing that border? But isn’t that the force of law? And at that time, why did no one say that this is the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, why didn’t they say it? I want you and all the people of Syunik to clearly understand what is happening. And again, I say that this is being done to increase the level of safety in Syunik.”

Referring to the issue of security guarantees, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated the following: “Security is guaranteed as far as our security system is effective. Today, for example, many are asking why the CSTO did not intervene during the Artsakh war. For the same reason. Because in our law, it is written that this is your border. Beyond the village of Tegh is the Republic of Azerbaijan. This law was adopted in 2010. This law was adopted by the parliament of 2010. The draft of that law was presented by the government of 2010. The CSTO tells us this is your border, and you have described that border. How can we intervene beyond your border? And I have received and continue to receive numerous assurances, and we have contracts that if, God forbid, military operations start inside our border, then a completely different regime will operate then.

As for Artsakh, the issue of Artsakh is a completely different issue and an internationally recognized one. They tell us if we are at that border, then we are closing the issue of Artsakh. If that is true, then you have closed the issue of Artsakh with the law you adopted in 2010. Do you understand? This is the nuance that, again, I say, people who were ministers and deputies in 2010 are saying if you recognize that line, it means you are closing the issue of Artsakh. Or in the Tegh area, or in the Goris area, in the Kapan area. But if that is the case, then you closed that question back in 2010. If recognizing that border today is treason, then it was treason even more in 2010. And in 2010, you know who was the deputy from this region, and we should look at how they voted.

Nikol Pashinyan also addressed the issue of blocking roads in some communities of Syunik Province and the motivations behind it. “Today's visit was planned; I was also supposed to go to Goris, Kapan, Meghri. To be honest, we did not carry out such organizational work in advance, but I saw that so many people gathered in the square. The most emotional moment for me, do you know which one it is? There are even people among the relatives of the fallen who have come here; they are present. People have blocked the road since morning, and due to that road closure, there have been large traffic jams. But I am asking a logical question—after all, why did they block the road? Because, as I saw you now, the same situation would have existed in Goris, and the same situation would have existed in Kapan, and the same situation would have existed in Meghri, and the same situation would have existed in Shurnukh; all places would have the same situation. Because people today understand the situation much deeper. This is the whole problem. Sisian is the entrance to Syunik; I came today and spoke with the people of Syunik. But I believe that today we should not give in to these provocations. There are people who want to incite clashes; there are people who want to provoke clashes with the police. We will not give in to their provocations. But I say the following: I offer a deal to those who have blocked the road. I believe that when I go to Goris, we will have a similarly unorganized meeting in Goris, we will have a similarly unorganized meeting in Kapan, and we will have a similarly unorganized meeting in Meghri, and people will come and offer their support. They blocked the road so that it would not be known. If that is not the case, I propose an easily provable thing: we will not succumb to provocation; we will not resort to violence; we will not do anything. Open the road; let’s go to Goris. Let’s go to Goris, see what is happening, what people are saying, what they are thinking. Of course, people have very difficult questions for us. Now you are asking questions; those questions are very complicated, correct, tough questions. And yes, I accept our responsibility that we must answer those questions. I also acknowledge that there are questions for which we currently do not have answers. But the answers to those questions are very important. And the situation is as follows: yes, we currently have the problem of missing persons. Relatives of the missing approached me, and we are guilty before those people. We are guilty, yes. But I also want to assure that everything possible is being done. Yesterday, a miracle happened when our six soldiers, who had been hiding in the forests for 70 days, were found and evacuated. Work has been going on in this direction for quite some time now, but it is the first time it has yielded a result because there are many complications in this work. I have probably discussed this issue with the President of the Russian Federation dozens of times. We have discussed it with the commanders of the Russian peacekeepers; they, in turn, have discussed it with representatives of Azerbaijan. And the parents were even thinking in many cases that we are saying yes, we are doing it, but in fact, we are doing nothing. They had the right to think so because there was no result. If something is being done and there is no result, it is clear that people are in an emotional state, in suffering, and they have the right to accuse us.

But yesterday’s event was like a miracle, and I want to thank the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, for the effort that was finally made. Because the biggest complication, do you know what it is? The area is large; that is, we do not know exactly where our boys are so that they can go in and bring them out. There have been cases when they have gone in and announced with a loudspeaker in Russian that there is a ceasefire, come out; there have been cases when they have announced in Armenian, and there has been no response. And we think that maybe there was no response because people did not trust it, because speaking in Armenian still does not mean that others, Azerbaijanis, can also speak Armenian, especially Russian. Later we thought that someone should make an announcement that is familiar to them so that they can hear the voice. For that long, it did not yield a result; finally, yesterday it did yield a result. I also thank all those who contributed to this miracle happening. I must say that the boys are all, of course, exhausted, but none of their lives is in danger. And initially, as far as I have been told, none are threatened with disabilities. So the boys will return to full life, and indeed today this is very symbolic.

Dear people of Sisian, I thank you because every time I come to Sisian, I have felt your support. And I must do a lot to deserve your support. In fact, I am guilty in many matters before you, and I hope that it will work out in such a way that I will be worthy of your trust. The mood cannot be different in one part of Syunik and another in another part. Today, the mood across the republic is essentially the same. I say again, why did they block the road? Because they know that there will be a similarly unorganized meeting in Goris, in Kapan, in Meghri. But, I say, especially on this day of mourning, we will not give in to provocations. Nothing, Meghri is in its place, Kapan is in its place, Goris is in its place. Today we came to Syunik. Today we met with the people of Syunik. Today we expressed our condolences and honored the memory of the soldiers from Syunik, and this process will continue. We will not succumb to provocations. I said that I came to look into the eyes of the people of Syunik. I came; I looked into the eyes of the people of Syunik. I know that I am guilty in many matters. We must work hard if you want that I will be truly worthy of your trust. You all, the citizens of Armenia, deserve much more. Unfortunately, no Armenian authority, including our government, has succeeded until now in bringing the country to what you truly deserve. We have not succeeded. I want to apologize to you for not only our authority but also on behalf of all former authorities. But the most important thing, my greatest concern is the following: I have taken this position on your behalf; you are the owners of this status. And I am responsible for you to continue to remain the owners of this status and not to be subjected to electoral fraud, intimidation, and so on, to let whoever wants conduct whatever they want.