We Have No Territorial Issues or Demands Against Azerbaijan: Hovik Aghazaryan

The newspaper "Hraparak" reports that a rally is set to take place today, August 23, as part of an initiative led by former head of the Constitutional Court Staff Edgar Ghazaryan, alongside a symbolic session of the Supreme Council. During this session, political figures who were at the forefront of independence will reaffirm the provisions of the Declaration of Independence adopted in 1990. In preparation for the session, a group of deputies from the Supreme Council held several discussions last week. One of the participants was Hovik Aghazaryan, a deputy from the Civil Contract faction, who reportedly proposed that the recognition of Artsakh be included in the agenda of the symbolic session. When attendees expressed surprise, he stated that this was Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's suggestion. Notably, even during times of war, these authorities did not heed multiple calls to bring up the issue of Artsakh's recognition.

We spoke with Hovik Aghazaryan.

– Did you discuss this with Nikol Pashinyan? Didn't you say at the gathering that this is his perspective?

– I didn’t discuss it with the Prime Minister. As a conscientious person, I went to the regular session of the Supreme Council-deputy club and found myself in this situation. It turned out that the meeting was initiated by Edgar Ghazaryan, which I took very poorly, because he neither has a mandate nor authority… Why should I discuss it with the Prime Minister? I read the text of the statement and said, 'Write directly that you demand the recognition of Artsakh from the authorities,' just like I tell the opposition, 'If you say it this way, then say it directly: recognize Artsakh’s independence, let people orient themselves so that our views differ sharply, it doesn’t need to be said in vague formulations, it should be said directly.'

– But currently you must consider a number of circumstances. Diplomacy is also about not saying everything directly and having a field for maneuver, especially now, during these fragile times. Do you think that making such a direct demand is in our interests?

– But that approach is not honest because they are exploiting it. If they are not exploiting it, then they should demand the recognition of Artsakh from the authorities in a straightforward text. If they truly demand that the authorities recognize Artsakh, and the authorities do not meet the demands of the opposition, the latter are already addressing the people on this issue.

– And?

– Then, in that case, it is the people who demand it, and Hovik Aghazaryan goes about his business, while Edgar Ghazaryan recognizes the independence of Artsakh, organizes protests, deals with everything in Istanbul, and sends the authorities to the trash bin of history.

– Are you disregarding the risks?

– Well, in that case, what is the point of acting like a hoodlum, pretending to be patriotic?

– Isn't it possible to address this through diplomatic means, or do you want to show the geopolitical centers, particularly Russia, how obedient you are, serving their interests while maintaining your power?

– No, I’m simply telling the oppositions to be honest; the idea you are pursuing—recognition of Artsakh—write it plainly. You can't please Russia and act like this at the same time… it just won’t work.

– Can we say from your perspective that recognition was not on the agenda either during the war or now for the authorities?

– Yes, the moment is not appropriate now. Because recognizing Artsakh today would mean opposing our agenda for establishing peace and improving relations with our neighbors. To recognize the independence of Artsakh means to make territorial claims against Azerbaijan, which means declaring war on Azerbaijan. And at that time, neither the CSTO can intervene, nor can Russia, while Turkey will intervene, and there will be a major war.

– You didn’t even take that step during wartime, now you are frightening with a new war.

– Well, yes, because our line is that we have no territorial issues or demands against Azerbaijan—except for the border incidents, which I am sure will be resolved. We have a problem of exercising the right of self-determination for the people of Artsakh.

This article was fully published in today's issue of "Hraparak" newspaper.