Can the Surrendered Authority Solve the Issues of Artsakh, Which Fears to Call Shushi and Hadrut Occupied? - Sharmazanov

The spokesperson for the Republican Party of Armenia, Eduard Sharmazanov, has made a statement regarding the Artsakh issue and security after the end of the Russian peacekeeping mission.

“It is evident that for the advocates of pan-Turkism, the long-term deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the Republic of Artsakh is not favorable. They will attempt to torpedo the extension of the Russian peacekeeping mission for at least 4 more years. I have repeatedly stated that despite some converging interests, Turkey will continue to remain the key adversary of Russia in the Caucasus. What should Armenia do?

First and foremost, it is essential to work with the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, particularly Russia, to ensure that the Russian military’s long-term mission is based on more legitimate grounds. It is recognized that ensuring the safety of Artsakh's citizens without the presence of Russian military forces is almost impossible in the near future. At the same time, we need to rearm our armed forces with the assistance of the Russian Federation.

We must conduct active diplomatic work in all directions, trying to curb the growing appetite for pan-Turkism. Within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, we should seek to restore the pro-Armenian, negotiation legacy negotiated by Serzh Sargsyan, prioritizing the issue of the status of Artsakh, rather than territorial concessions.

Can the surrendered authority solve these issues, which fears even to call Shushi and Hadrut occupied? Considering the peacemaking yet, in reality, anti-Armenian reverences of Yerevan and Ankara, the answer is no, it cannot.”