No Matter How Much the Armenian Government Acts Like an Ostrich, the Enemy Is Not Planning to Forget Its Hostility: Hokikyan

Journalist Nairi Hokikyan made a post on his Facebook page about the danger of surrendering Karvachar to the enemy. The post is as follows:

Two months after the surrender of Karvachar, the Minister of Environment of Armenia declares that the sources of the Arpa and Vorotan rivers remain under the control of Azerbaijan, which is dangerous for Lake Sevan. As a classic would say, "Oh really..." Since 2015, I have repeatedly raised this issue, that the watershed of Karvachar may be endangered since it is a target of Azerbaijan. Zero response from the authorities.

After the infamous statement on November 9, 2020, I personally visited Karvachar several times, filmed in that watershed, and presented the issues we may face if that area comes under Azerbaijani control.

At that time and later, three people tried to discuss with me what could be done and take some steps: MPs Edmon Marukyan, Sophia Hovsepyan, and a representative of the Russian Embassy. However, one of the newly elected MPs from the ruling alliance "kindly advised" me to speak less about issues that only they have authority over. Of course, I sent that MP where they should be sent.

Before the handover of Karvachar on November 25, 2020, there was an opportunity to maintain that watershed since it belongs to Armenia from the perspective of international law. Karvachar was generally transferred to Azerbaijan during 1925-1933, separating from Artsakh, while the area around Al Lakes has never been part of Karvachar but belongs to Armenia, and was only transferred to Azerbaijan between 1933-1940 for Kurdish shepherds to graze their sheep in the summer. Despite this, that area, with a total area of 240 sq km, has not been ceded to Azerbaijan as property.

For years, I have been proposing to various Armenian governments to take this factor into account and to include the area of Al Lakes within the territory of Armenia to avoid future threats based on international law. Neither the Republican nor the My Step authorities paid proper attention.

Artsakh’s Foreign Minister Davit Babayan was the first to raise the issue of the Karvachar watershed, discussing it multiple times with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Together we implemented different projects to ensure the security of the sources of the Arpa River flowing into Lake Sevan.

Today, they are also under Azerbaijani control, according to GPS maps verified by Google Maps. Do not forget, the enemy is absolutely not planning to forget its hostility, no matter how much the Armenian government acts like an ostrich.