Installing Checkpoints in the Lachin Corridor Will Lead to the Destruction of Artsakh, Babayan

“The idea of installing a customs checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor poses a deadly threat to us,” said David Babayan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh, in an interview with Factinfo.

According to the Foreign Minister, this is a vision articulated by Aliyev, but it is not just an opinion; it is their plan. “What does it mean to establish a customs checkpoint in Nagorno-Karabakh? There are people who say that Azerbaijan and Turkey do not pose a danger to us. Perhaps they haven’t visited Tsitsernakaberd or Yerablur for a long time while we know what that means. If there is no threat, then why don’t we just give them the corridor? What’s the harm? But in reality, this is extremely dangerous. It will lead to the destruction of Artsakh and the fragmentation of Armenia,” Babayan emphasized, noting that in this way Artsakh will be “killed.”

The Foreign Minister compared the Berdzor-Stepanakert highway to a person connected to a life support machine in an intensive care unit. “How can we give this to the enemy to choke us? Those who say this is dangerous—do they want to kill Artsakh? We will not allow this,” said Babayan.

When asked if there is any point in discussing the unblocking of roads in this context, Babayan noted that a road does not mean a corridor. By saying corridor, they mean to give that area to the enemy and fragment it. “They are cutting off Armenia, tearing it apart, and turning it into shish kebab meat. If we want to become such meat, that’s another thing. This will lead to annihilation,” the minister stated.

In response to the remark about how we plan to regulate relations with the enemy country under such demands and preconditions, Babayan stated that no one is against relationships and communications; however, the question is at what cost they occur. If Turkey refuses its expansionism, that’s another matter, but they are not renouncing it; instead, they are publishing maps, killing people, and speaking to us in the language of ultimatums. “The problem is preserving Artsakh. It is not necessary to go and sit down for negotiations tomorrow. Of course, it is desirable, but it is more important that we are in our place, that we stand in Artsakh,” Babayan emphasized.

He also stressed that there are no good and bad peoples; there are only good and bad states, and there are dangerous, aggressive states, and Azerbaijan is an aggressive and dangerous country that does not hide its intentions. Regarding the installation of checkpoints in the Lachin corridor, the minister believes this will lead to the destruction of Artsakh and a new genocide; thus, such a thing must not be allowed.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that the Zangezur and Lachin corridors should have similar passport regimes. “There should not be customs checkpoints in the Zangezur corridor. If Armenia wants to control goods and people, we will open a customs checkpoint in the Lachin corridor,” Aliyev said.