Minister of Defense Said Force Will Be Used if Armenian Sovereign Territory is Violated Even by 1 cm: Is Our Road Our Sovereign Territory or Not? Vanetsyan

During a speech in the National Assembly, Arthur Vanetsyan, leader of the "I Have Honor" faction, stated that while discussions on the government's program are ongoing in the National Assembly, the security of the country is under serious threat. He highlighted that the enemy country has blocked an interstate road, and it remains unclear whether Syunik is cut off from the rest of Armenia or not.

This comment was made while addressing the announcement from the National Security Service regarding the closure of the Kapan-Goris interstate road at the Karmirakar-Shurnukh section by the Azerbaijani side around 11:00 PM on August 25.

“The Minister of Defense said that if Armenia's sovereign territory is violated even by 1 cm, force will be used, and the enemy will be thrown out. Mr. Minister, I ask for your clarification: is our interstate road our sovereign territory or not? I would like Nikol Pashinyan to address this question in his speech, stating what document regulates the status of the Goris-Kapan interstate road,” he said, addressing the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense present in the hall.

He also mentioned that there were statements in the National Assembly the previous day, accusing the late Armen Sarkissian of serious crimes, including attempting a coup and treason against the homeland. “Many people were dismissed from military service during his tenure as Minister of Defense, whom I personally know,” he added.

According to Vanetsyan, there are good ideas in the government's five-year program, but there is no guarantee that this program will be implemented. “The current atmosphere in the country and the public sentiments give grounds for such a conclusion, as does the ruling power, which, as much strength as it has, does not understand. What is happening these days in Armenia regarding journalists, MPs, mayors, and others is a result of not fearing; they do not fear because they do not understand. I never thought I would say again, ‘Stop,’ because I see how the government is going and leading the country into a new and dangerous trap. The essence of this trap is the misinterpretation of public sentiments,” Arthur Vanetsyan stated.