Avoiding Discussion on Artsakh and Its Independence

The Secretary of the Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, repeatedly avoids providing any clear statements regarding the status of Artsakh, their perceptions of it, and the expected solutions. Each time we pose a direct question, he initially obfuscates the matter with vague formulations, referring to the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, and then reminds us that their ideas are outlined in the government’s program, which also remains unclear about the future of Artsakh. This was reported by hraparak.am.

Yesterday, after a government session, Grigoryan found himself in a similar situation when we reminded him about the status of Artsakh. Prior to that, we pointed out that Russian peacekeepers are in Artsakh for a limited term of five years, and asked whether they have any ideas about the future of Artsakh after this period, especially if they are not inclined to solve the status issue before then.

“Our understanding remains the same; we have repeatedly stated that as long as the Nagorno-Karabakh issue remains unresolved, peacekeepers should be deployed there to find a long-term solution. As long as that solution does not exist, the presence of peacekeepers there is a necessity. Armenia will continue to work to ensure that peacekeepers are deployed there and remain until the issue is resolved,” said Armen Grigoryan.

When we inquired how he envisions a resolution to the issue, the Secretary of the Security Council once again mentioned that this has been stated in the government’s program and then left, once again evading giving a clear answer regarding the status of Artsakh.

Incidentally, he also consistently avoids using the name “Republic of Artsakh,” instead referring to “Nagorno-Karabakh,” and does not emphasize the word “republic.” This comes from an official born in Artsakh, whose heart evidently does not grieve over the loss of Artsakh, Hadrut, and Shushi. It is clear that both Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan and his political leadership have washed their hands of Artsakh, and now, accommodating the “friendly” Azerbaijan, they are refusing to talk about Artsakh, its Armenian identity, the desire never to be part of Azerbaijan, and so on. Perhaps they are laying the groundwork for eventually ceding Artsakh entirely to Azerbaijan.