Aliyev Does Not Hide That He Can Start New Aggression Against Not Only Artsakh But Also Armenia If Necessary: Artak Beglaryan

The situation in Artsakh is quite stable compared to the February-April period. This was stated by Artak Beglaryan, the State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, in an interview with NEWS.am.

According to Beglaryan, this stability is attributed to the preventive and deterrent actions of the Defense Army, the Russian peacekeepers, and geopolitical additional guarantees, mainly from the Russian Federation.

“However, on the other hand, Azerbaijan is not refraining from or abandoning its anti-Armenian and anti-Artsakh policies, and Aliyev does not hide that he can start new aggression against not only Artsakh but also the Republic of Armenia if necessary. This means that the situation cannot be considered long-term safe or stable,” he noted.

Touching upon bringing a period of peace to the agenda, Beglaryan stated, “The position of the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh is that yes, we want peace throughout the region. But that peace must be realized and respected in terms of our rights, our freedoms, including the unconditional realization and respect of our right to self-determination, and peace cannot simply be at the expense of humiliating the Armenians of Artsakh and Armenia and harming our vital interests. From this perspective, I still do not see positive prerequisites that Azerbaijan is ready for a dignified peace.”

Referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's claim that the state budget of Artsakh has increased unprecedentedly over the past two years due to the financial support directed by the Armenian government, Beglaryan said, “There are clear figures published both by the Armenian government and the Artsakh government. The assistance provided to Artsakh in 2021 was divided into two parts: both the funds transferred to the Artsakh state budget in the form of direct inter-state loans and the direct social support programs implemented by the Armenian government for the residents of Artsakh. In this respect, the Republic of Armenia has provided considerable support for the post-war recovery of Artsakh and ensuring social stability.”