Aghazaryan Comments on Charles Michel's Statement: 'I Don't Know How the Translation Was Done'

The statement issued by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, regarding the results of the meeting between Pashinyan and Aliyev in Brussels, has definitively revealed the cards regarding the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The newspaper 'Hraparak' reports:

Only the phrase 'the ethnic people of Karabakh,' which is included in the discussions around the so-called 'peace treaty,' is enough to imagine what status awaits the Republic of Artsakh in the near future, should Nikol Pashinyan remain in power and manage to sign this treaty. 'In the coming weeks, teams led by the foreign ministers will advance this process. In addition, I have emphasized to both leaders the necessity of ensuring the rights and safety of the ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh,' the 'godfather' of this process, Charles Michel, stated.

We inquired of the MP from the 'Civil Contract' faction, Hovik Aghazaryan, whether there has been a discussion within the faction regarding Michel's statement and what their views are on it and the Brussels meeting in general.

'There hasn’t been a discussion,' he replied briefly. 'But you are familiar with that statement, right?' 'As much as it has been published, but not officially.' 'And from what has been published, what have you understood about the fate of Artsakh?' 'The most important thing for me is that the question of Artsakh's fate is becoming a tangible agenda for all parties.'

'But that has always been a tangible agenda.' 'No, no... Two months ago, people were saying that this issue was closed and so on.' 'Who was saying this?' 'Vahé, in any case, I don’t find it appropriate to comment further, we can talk about this topic tomorrow or the day after when there’s an opportunity.' 'Okay, let me just ask one thing. Is it acceptable for you, Aghazaryan, that Charles Michel's statement says, 'It is necessary to ensure the rights and security of the ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh'?' 'Well, now I don’t know how the translation was done, how it wasn’t done, I need to know that in detail in order to respond.' 'But officially, no one has opposed this statement or denied it.' 'In any case, until we receive the relevant information on all this, I cannot say anything.' 'But what if it’s too late after receiving it, Mr. Aghazaryan? What if it turns out that Artsakh is Azerbaijan, and that’s it?' 'Nothing is ever too late. If you follow the processes and anxieties of the last two years that haunt all of us, you can say that everything is going normally, and we shouldn’t panic; hence, it is never too late.' 'But if Pashinyan signs that document, and it turns out that Artsakh is no longer part of Armenia but is Azerbaijan, will it not be too late then?' 'Pashinyan will not sign any document without agreeing with the authorities of Artsakh.' 'Are you sure? Did he say so himself?' 'Of course, I am sure; what are we talking about?' 'So the authorities of Artsakh will agree to become an ethnic population within Azerbaijan?' 'I haven’t said such a thing. Let’s pause this conversation; when I familiarize myself, then we will talk.' 'Now the opposition is saying that there is a threat: Pashinyan is preparing to finally hand over Artsakh to Azerbaijan. Can you assert and assure the opposition that the Armenian authorities will not hand over Artsakh to Azerbaijan?' 'No one can hand over Artsakh to Azerbaijan.' 'Not even Pashinyan?' 'No one can hand it over.' 'But what if they did? What guarantee do you have that your Prime Minister will not hand over Artsakh to Azerbaijan, and that the people of Artsakh will not become part of the ethnic population of Azerbaijan?' 'Please, let’s stop.' 'Do you think everyone in your faction is of one mind, united in this policy, and do they trust Nikol Pashinyan in all matters?' 'Of course, as of today, I know that we are united.' 'And is what he is doing correct or leading in the right direction?' 'Of course.'

For more details, see today's issue of the newspaper.