Resigned Ministers, Diplomats, Artists, and Notable Figures Issue Joint Statement

A group of individuals has initiated a call to the concerned communities in Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora to join their statement. The group includes former Defense Minister advisor Artak Bshtikyan, former Deputy Foreign Minister and Extraordinary Ambassador Vahagn Melikyan, former Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister and Doctor of Political Science Arsen Gasparyan, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Fadei Charchoghlian, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Karen Mirzoyan, Professor and Doctor of Historical Sciences Ruben Melkonyan, former head of the Tourism Committee Zarmine Zeituntsyan, and Doctor of Law and Associate Professor Avetik Harutyunyan.

The initiative is described as “free of any party affiliations.” The statement regarding the fate of Artsakh is presented below:

“Since the 44-day war in Artsakh in 2020, the threats of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem pertain to foreign policy, military, economic, and cultural domains, which are crucial for our statehood, as well as for national and regional security systems. Thus, the challenges present in these areas must be perceived realistically, without undue emotion, extremism, or false pacifism. We are convinced that the following issues have surfaced most prominently in Armenian-Azerbaijani and Armenian-Turkish relations, and the approaches to these issues require clarity based solely on our national-state interests:

• The Artsakh issue, which is based on the internationally recognized fundamental right of nations to self-determination and to govern their own destiny, cannot under any circumstances and for any reasons be made a subject of bargaining. The fate of the Republic of Artsakh lies within the unified rights and responsibilities of all Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora.
• The status of the Republic of Artsakh, including the regions of Hadrut and Shushi, seamless and free communication between Armenia and Artsakh, the return of Armenians to their permanent residences, the security of the people of Artsakh, and ongoing cooperation with the Russian peacekeeping mission must become priorities of our foreign policy.
• The only guarantees of the security of Artsakh can be the modern and capable Artsakh Defense Army and the Armed Forces of Armenia. The security of Armenia is directly tied to the security of Artsakh.
• In negotiations with Turkey without preconditions, the issue of the Armenian Genocide is non-negotiable. The effectiveness of Armenian-Turkish dialogue cannot be conditional on the final resolution of the status of Artsakh and security issues in Artsakh.

Peace, demarcation and delimitation, reopening of communications, and establishment of interstate relations in our region have clear situational, geopolitical, and military-political characteristics. If the pursuit of peace transforms into a political end in itself for Armenia and Artsakh, then the card of restarting the war will continuously become a subject of exploitation. At this stage, when the aforementioned fundamental issues remain unresolved, the attempts to present relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan to our society and the Diaspora as a valid discussion are unacceptable, and their truthfulness and sincerity are questionable.

To effectively address these nationwide issues, it is essential to confidently utilize the still-unexhausted diplomatic arsenal and the complete potential and unity of the Armenian nation. Setting aside all disagreements, it is necessary to raise national dissent in the face of any threat to Armenia and Artsakh and stand up to defend our national-state interests and dignity. The homeland is above everything and cannot be endangered under any circumstances.”

The statement has been joined by:

• Raffi Hovannisian - Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Vardan Oskanyan - Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Ara Aivazyan - Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Avet Adonts - Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador, former Deputy Foreign Minister
• Artak Apitonian - Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador, former Deputy Foreign Minister
• Gagik Khalachyan - Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador, former Deputy Foreign Minister
• Ruben Karapetyan - Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador
• Grigor Arakelyan - Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador
• Vardan Asoyan - Extraordinary Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Minister
• Karen Daduryan - Former advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Naira Zohrabyan - Former Member of Parliament
• Metakse Hakobyan - Member of Parliament of the Republic of Artsakh
• Ruben Melikyan - Former Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh
• Vigen Sonentz-Pahazyan - Lawyer, international law expert
• Varoujan Iskanderyan - Former Representative of the Republic of Artsakh in Australia
• Ashot Melkonyan - Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Academician
• Ruben Safrastyan - Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Academician
• Aram Simonyan - Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor
• Gurgen Melikyan - Professor at Yerevan State University
• Artsrun Avagyan - Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor
• Samvel Muradyan - Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor
• Marat Grigoryan - Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Geology at Yerevan State University
• Edik Minasyan - Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor
• Angela Achikgyozyan - Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor
• Yura Avetisyan - Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor
• Vardan Voskanyan - Professor at the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Yerevan State University
• Varoujan Geghamyan - Candidate of Historical Sciences
• Arax Mansuryan - Opera singer, Professor
• Hrant Tokhatyan - People's Artist of the RA
• Davit Amalyan - Honored Artist of the RA
• Shushan Petrosyan - Honored Artist of the RA
• Armen Yusnunts - Honored Figure of the Arts
• Alla Levonyan - Honored Artist of the RA
• Aram Gevorgyan (Aramo) - Honored Artist of the RA
• Mher Mkrtchyan - State Prize laureate, film director
• Davit Sahakyan - Honored Figure of the Arts, director
• Narek Duryan - Director, Actor
• Karen Grigoryan - Media expert, candidate of sciences, composer
• Arabo Isperyan - Singer
• Hovhannes Galstyan - Film Director, Producer
• Vahe Yan - Film Director
• Artur Gevorgyan - Sculptor
• Vahe Begoyan - Artistic Director and Conductor of the 'Saghmoser' Choir