We will stand until the end, but we will never be part of Azerbaijan, says Artsakh Foreign Minister

Following its current situation after the last war, Azerbaijan is taking practical steps towards the occupation of Syunik by opening a new "geopolitical front of Zangezur." In an interview with Armenpress, Artsakh's Foreign Minister David Babayan called for sobriety and understanding of what is occurring, urging readiness for new aggression from Azerbaijan. According to the Foreign Minister, although Artsakh is now in a "resuscitation ward," though the Artsakh "shield" is broken, it is not destroyed.

David Babayan emphasized that the official stance of Stepanakert remains unchanged: Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan.

- Mr. Babayan, the President of Azerbaijan has stated that according to their "unofficial information," "Armenia is not ready" to sign a "peace treaty" with Azerbaijan. Acting Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan commented on this statement, saying that as long as the status of Artsakh is not definitively resolved, it will be difficult to speak of other solutions. What do you think the agreement that Aliyev is talking about is, what is the purpose of such a statement, and how realistic is it to discuss the signing of a peace treaty now, considering the complex issues we have today regarding the Artsakh problem and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict?

- Let me say the following: We should not focus on the legal ideas expressed by Aliyev, such as agreements, treaties, peace, etc., but rather on the new topic that he has already introduced, which was very predictable and about which we have been talking for years; it seemed that everyone understood, but now they are surprised - "how is this happening?" Aliyev has opened a new geopolitical topic, a new front called the Zangezur front. And this has become an object of discussion, it has become a reality. For years we have been saying that if, God forbid, Artsakh weakens, the motherland Armenia will be in mortal danger. Some thought that Artsakh was a burden, and that by freeing it, they would live well and trade. No, that is not how it is and that is not how it will be. Do you see? Artsakh has weakened, and now the Zangezur front has opened. Now Azerbaijan has begun the process of opening the Zangezur geopolitical front.

- What does that mean?

- It means that after Artsakh finds itself in this situation—geopolitically, psychologically, economically, and in other respects we are in a resuscitation ward—that shield is broken. It is not destroyed, but it is broken, and now another front has opened—the Zangezur front. What are they doing? They have always talked about "Zangezur being Azerbaijani" and such absurd things. Now they have moved on to practical application, to realizing that project. They have created the "Eastern Zangezur Economic Region." By the way, the creation of those economic regions is the first step. Then these economic regions will turn into districts or vilayets. But the question is that there has never been any economic, cultural, or administrative entity in Azerbaijan called "Eastern Zangezur." Now they have created that economic region. Tomorrow they will turn it into an administrative unit. If there is an "Eastern Zangezur," we have said that it has created the concept of "Western Zangezur." Yesterday Aliyev spoke about this. He said that "Western Zangezur, which is connected to Armenia, must be liberated." And what did he do? He included what was previously called the Kelbajar-Lachin economic region in the "Eastern Zangezur Economic Region," though they did not control it, but included the same Kelbajar and southern parts of Hadrut, named Jabrayil. In other words, neither Jabrayil nor Kelbajar has ever been historically referred to as Zangezur. Therefore, why is it named that way now? To simultaneously create the concept of "Western Zangezur" over similar territories and begin that process. And this is almost the entire southern basin of Lake Sevan, Vayots Dzor, and the Syunik region. And they have already made the first step by putting that concept into circulation. And they are even talking not just about Meghri, but about the "Zangezur corridor." In other words, that geopolitical front has already started to operate.

We must sober up, understand what is happening, and be prepared. They are coming very prepared for work, prepared to approach the task. We must also take this into account. They are approaching step by step. First, an economic region, then turning it into an administrative unit. And it has already started to operate. That is why similar statements will continuously be made. If they want a peace treaty, they will say, "give me Western Zangezur," "give me Gokcha, which is Sevan," "give me Yerevan." And that is already evident. Their main geopolitical attack vectors are very clear. They are the most honest enemies; they have never hidden their true intentions.

- Mr. Babayan, the acting Prime Minister has said that Azerbaijan's statements regarding the so-called "corridor" are aimed at disrupting the operation of the trilateral working group and preventing the opening of regional communications.

- You see, we must differentiate transportation communications from geopolitical concepts. He does not say, "the road through Meghri," he refers to the "Zangezur corridor," "Western Zangezur," "Eastern Zangezur." This is already geopolitical, do you understand?

- Yerevan says that there is no corridor, but a road can be opened. But what do the Azerbaijanis mean by saying "corridor"?

- The "corridor," in their understanding, is the first step towards the annexation of "Western Zangezur." This is how it should be understood. It is the gradual annexation of "Western Zangezur" related to Turkey-Azerbaijan unification and our Armenian fragments to Azerbaijan. This is how they think, and we should not suffer from illusions.

- So, you believe that after the occupation of the majority of Artsakh, Azerbaijan will move to the occupation of Syunik?

- It has already begun! It is simply not through swift means, declaring a broad war, but gradually.

- But, excuse me, in this situation they are talking about a peace treaty, the opening of roads, the restoration of transport links, unblocking, delineation, and border demarcation. In this situation, when, as you say, Azerbaijan has actually begun to implement its program of occupying Syunik, isn’t such talk a bit strange?

- But has Aliyev ever concealed his intentions? He openly declares them. There is nothing strange about it because there is a different approach, a different perception, and a different worldview. Their worldview is such.

- Mr. Babayan, in the new status quo that has emerged after the war, there is talk of a peace treaty, resumption of negotiations, etc., Yerevan says that the priority is the clarification of the status of Artsakh, while Azerbaijan makes different statements. Where does Artsakh stand in these discussions? Is the Republic of Artsakh no longer a subject? Isn’t anyone asking about Artsakh’s opinion now?

- Artsakh's opinion remains unchanged - we will never be part of Azerbaijan. Everyone needs to understand this well. Let’s say ambassadors get up and come to Shushi. By this, they essentially say to Azerbaijan, "Artsakh is yours." For us, that is unacceptable. We say there are two options. Either we will stand until the last drop of blood, we will perish, or we will collectively withdraw. There is no other option; we will not be part of Azerbaijan. This is clear. That is our position.

- Very well. In that case, how does official Stepanakert envision the status of Artsakh in the near future, considering the military-political situation and particularly the presence of Russian peacekeepers, Russian troops in Artsakh?

- A self-governing, independent country, a separate subject that has its geopolitical role in the region. We must act as a geopolitical subject.

- An independent republic that will then strive for unification with Armenia, or which will be part of Russia, or will obtain some other status?

- You see, this is a question that pertains to a very distant future, and it is not right to speculate, to fabricate a Kikos story. The most important thing is that we will not be part of Azerbaijan; we will maintain our sovereignty. After that, we will see.

- Thank you for the interview, Mr. Babayan.