Video: Araik Harutyunyan Discusses the 44-Day War

On May 12, following the ceasefire, the political and military leadership in Artsakh did not draw correct lessons from examples around the world and, despite having an advantage in the negotiation process, could not secure more favorable solutions. This was stated by Artsakh President Araik Harutyunyan during a conversation with employees of the Ministry of Urban Development of Artsakh.

Speaking about the 44-day war, he noted that the consequences of the war were clear to him by the beginning of October, but the political forces in Armenia have not reached a common understanding. “There is no political consensus or unified opinion among opposition and pro-government forces, and it seemed that stopping the war at that time was considered treason,” emphasized the President of Artsakh.

As a reason for the defeat, he pointed out the fact that a united Azerbaijani-Turkish force, along with 7,000 mercenaries, was fighting against Armenian forces. According to the President of Artsakh, the outcome of the war would have been different had only Azerbaijan fought against Armenian forces.

Discussing the pre-war errors that also affected the outcome of the war, the President highlighted the greatest mistake as the fact that starting from June 13, 1992, when Shahumyan, Martakert, Hadrut, and certain villages in Martuni and Askeran were devoid of Armenians, “no one stood up for that population, and more than 50,000 Armenians left Artsakh. Not even ten percent of Shahumyan residents remained in Artsakh; no one stood up for them, and those people left.”

“Today, instead of 145,000, there should be over 200,000 Armenians living in Artsakh, and then the outcome of the war could have been different,” remarked the President of Artsakh, adding that we must learn from past mistakes and all displaced residents need to be repatriated and provided with housing.