I See a Great Cause for Concern: Vardevanyan on the Pashinyan-Aliyev-Michel Negotiations

The statement following the Brussels negotiations contains several significant deficiencies. The term Artsakh is not mentioned. How is it possible that the same government of Armenia speaks about a humanitarian disaster in Artsakh and afterwards does not even mention it in the statement that emerged from four hours of discussions?

It is also not addressed that Azerbaijan is conducting an ethnic cleansing policy in Artsakh. This means that Armenia did not defend this issue; if it were fundamental, a principle, a demand, it could not have been omitted. This was stated today in a conversation with journalists by Aram Vardevanyan, a member of the Armenia faction in the National Assembly.

Vardevanyan also drew attention to the fact that there is talk of demarcation and delimitation, while, given the current situation regarding Artsakh, what justifies discussing demarcation and delimitation?

"In other words, you go to demarcate and delimit borders with a country that is implementing an ethnic cleansing policy in Artsakh, which even cuts off gas supply to psychologically terrorize people, and which continues to carry out armed actions in Artsakh. I do not understand whether this government does not notice that just a few days ago we had new casualties. In such conditions, where are you going to engage in demarcation and delimitation?" Vardevanyan emphasized.

According to him, the alternative to this shameful situation is not war; a political strategy of instilling incomprehensible fear within Armenia cannot be conducted. The possibility of war or those circumstances do not mean that one must always subject oneself to humiliation.

Another point that Vardevanyan highlighted was that nothing was mentioned about the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group in the statement. Vardevanyan noted that he sees a significant cause for concern.

As reported earlier, as a result of negotiations lasting 4.5 hours yesterday, an agreement was reached to establish a bilateral commission on the delimitation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan by the end of April, in accordance with the agreement reached on November 26, 2021, in Sochi, which will also be empowered to ensure security and stability along the border. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan have instructed their Foreign Ministers to begin preparations for peace negotiations between the two countries.