If the Authorities Continue in the Same Manner, the Legal Loss of Artsakh and a Major War Are Inevitable: Abovyan

Former MP Arman Abovyan’s statement reads: “Considering the recent statements of the authorities and the vague ‘hints’ regarding their vision for resolving the Artsakh issue, it can be confidently assumed (but why assume?), that the phase of shaping public opinion has already begun, suggesting that an attempt will be made to transfer the issue of Artsakh from the international agenda into the legal domain of Azerbaijan's 'internal issues.'

This means that the current authorities are preparing to abandon the policy of achieving full independence for the Republic of Artsakh and are effectively transferring the issue to Azerbaijan's legal sphere, which would mean that the Republic of Artsakh would simply disappear as a political factor for Armenians.

This would also deal a serious blow to the Russian peacekeeping mission, as it would lay the groundwork for Baku to one day simply refuse the Russian peacekeepers, indicating that Armenia accepts the Artsakh issue as an internal problem of Azerbaijan, and therefore, Armenians no longer see a threat and there is no need for peacekeepers.

But that will be later. For now, the authorities are sending out various supposedly ‘cunning’ messages to the society to gradually prepare the ground for this move.

Of course, no one has gone crazy in the government to announce outright that they are preparing to de jure hand over Artsakh to Azerbaijani control.

So let’s take a closer look at what the authorities are saying:

1. At the level of governmental deputies, the idea is already being circulated that, for instance, the thesis 'Without Artsakh There Is No Armenia' is dangerous.
2. They are persistently spinning a notion that the most important thing is the 'physical security of Artsakhis', while simultaneously failing to clarify why there is no discussion about the political structure for the survival of Artsakh’s security system alongside security issues.
3. They talk about, or rather manipulate the thesis, that yes, the issue of self-determination of nations will be on the negotiating table, but they never mention that in the case of Artsakh, discussions on ensuring security can only be held under the highest form of self-determination, unconditional INDEPENDENCE.
4. Again, to make it clear, for instance for Artsakh, 'cultural self-determination' within Azerbaijan is one of the models of 'self-determination of nations' as well.
5. An absurd and fabricated thesis is thrown around numerous times, claiming that Armenia has long accepted Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

This absurdity is so ridiculous and false that one is simply shocked at how much they can disrespect their own people by trying to deceive them in this primitive manner.

I assume they will refer, for example, to the fact that we and the Azerbaijanis are joint members of the UN or the CIS, but I repeat, as of now there is no legal document that can be directly considered as proof of Armenia’s acceptance of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Indeed, they will try to trick us again on one hand by saying that accepting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity will not affect the processes surrounding Artsakh, while on the other hand scaring us by saying that if we do not accept Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, they will in turn not recognize Armenia’s territorial integrity, will start a war, and Azerbaijan will seize our territories.

The reality is as follows: accept Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity (i.e., completely throw Artsakh to the Turkish wolf), or not accept it, but Azerbaijan will still start a new war against us (since destroying Armenia is part of Azerbaijan’s military-political doctrine); in this case, however, the Artsakh issue will be entirely politically eliminated.

Of course, a war can be prevented, but that is impossible if the authorities do not change their Azerbaijan-friendly and defeatist policy by 180 degrees, and I think that in their case this is impossible.

Therefore, be assured, soon all the aforementioned processes’ aggressive informational preparation will become more evident to everyone. Yes, I repeat to all ‘Future Exists’ fans, if the authorities continue their policy as they are doing now, the legal loss of Artsakh and a major war in the sovereign territory of Armenia is INEVITABLE.”