Tensions Will Accompany Us Until the Demarcation and Delimitation Phase, Says Andranik Kocharyan

The operational communication between the defense ministers of Armenia and the opposing side must become a reality. This was stated by Andranik Kocharyan, the Chairman of the National Assembly Defense Committee, during a conversation with journalists in the National Assembly.

Commenting on the tensions that occurred yesterday in the Gegharkunik Province, Kocharyan noted that such tensions will always accompany us until the final resolution of issues, which will become a reality when we enter the phase of demarcation and delimitation. "For that, a harmonious and stable situation must be created in the country. As you have seen, there are forces that do not have that desire or agenda," the legislator pointed out.

To the question of what should be clarified from the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Putin, and President Aliyev, especially since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not deny that such a meeting may occur at the end of November, Kocharyan said they have repeatedly stated that Armenia is in favor of it. "We are interested in this starting as soon as possible, so that there is clarity on where the zero point is, and after negotiations around that point, the solutions to the issues related to the engineering structures along the front line should be reached," said Kocharyan.

Addressing the question of which year's maps will be used for the demarcation and delimitation, the deputy noted that the Armenian people wish for the times of Tigranes the Great, and there has also been talk of maps from the 1920s. "During the negotiations, a desirable zero point must be found for us, after which we should not have losses; rather, we should achieve gains. This must start with the negotiation process, and within the framework of such a process, there will be sites of tension that will diminish when there are no indirect supporting processes for these sites within Armenia," said Kocharyan.

Regarding the upcoming Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting on December 15 in Brussels, Kocharyan indicated that there should be some expectations from all negotiations. "If we go to negotiations, it means we have something to say or listen to. Negotiations are always good when they alleviate tensions. The issues to be resolved in the negotiations depend on what the negotiating party has behind it. In other words, the leadership is an expression of the will of the people," stated the legislator.