Prime Minister Said The War Is 140 km Away, What Self-Defense for Syunik? Arushanyan on Meeting with Pashinyan

Fabricated cases are being organized once again by these showmen. This was stated today, April 23, during a conversation with reporters in the courtyard of the court by Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan, according to News.am.

It should be noted that the legality of the arrest of Meghri Mayor Mkhitar Zakaryan is being examined at the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court, presided over by Judge Manvel Shahverdyan.

“In my case, the criminal cases have been around for a long time. That is, these are fabricated, repeated criminal cases of this government. I think no adequate person can take such fabricated cases seriously,” Arushanyan noted.

Responding to the security issues in Goris, as well as to the remarks by My Step members that there are no security problems in Syunik, Arushanyan stated, “The type of mentality that our government's authorities possess today—if the Turks have committed genocide, if they are not considered enemies, if our historical lands are not considered ours, what do you think those people will say? They will say that Syunik is safe, there are no problems in Syunik because they do not care what happens in this homeland.”

Regarding the assertions that the opening of communications will lead to a better life for the residents of Goris, the mayor responded, “I do not think that any normal person perceives this as normal, because it is plain logic—if we open our borders with our enemy, there will be no economic component, except in a negative sense. We see what has happened in our neighboring country, Georgia. If there is a tender taking place in some part of our country, I am sure their companies will come and profit at very low prices. What is the necessity of opening the border? Is there any problem today to go to the enemy's territory and come back? I think there is no problem. Even during the days of the communists, there were frequent issues; it’s embedded in our genetic code that they are our enemies; they have taken millions of Armenian lives. Whoever wants to befriend the Turks is more dangerous than the Turks themselves.”

When asked if the mayors of the cities in Syunik have tried to meet with Nikol Pashinyan, the mayor said, “The last time I saw the person you mentioned was during the war when he called for a meeting. When our friends, Manvel Paramazyan, stated that we should proceed with Syunik's self-defense, Pashinyan remarked that the war is 140 kilometers away, what self-defense of Syunik? What is there to sit and talk about with this kind of person? I have no desire to speak a word.”