“Almost the Entire Frontline Formed in the Recent War in Nerkin Hand is Under Azerbaijani Control,” Grigoryan

“There are no real reforms; everything is just empty statements, a balloon - nothing more,” said Anna Grigoryan, a member of the National Assembly from the “Armenia” faction, during a panel discussion on the topic of “Armenian Agenda: Military Reform - Uncalculated Ideas.”

The MP noted that real reform should be visible “on the ground,” but especially after the Azerbaijani attack on September 13, the reality we are facing has become clear.

“Almost the entire frontline formed during the war in Nerkin Hand has come under Azerbaijani control,” emphasized Anna Grigoryan, adding that the sentiment among people since the war that the state is not behind them still exists today. “As long as you do not have a national, state authority that pursues your national, state interests and firmly holds your borders, yes, the citizen's gaze will be towards this state, that state, and never towards their own capabilities.”

In this context, discussing geopolitical arrangements, the MP reminded that currently, there are Azerbaijani and Russian troops in Syunik, Armenian forces, and observers from Europe, while Iran is continuously conducting military exercises at the border, and there are talks of engagements in other formats.

“Our number one priority should be to avoid becoming Syria; our problem should be to ensure that we do not become a collision point for different geopolitical centers. However, what I see now is that the political agenda pursued by these authorities is leading us to potentially be that collision point. And the most likely point of collision is right in Syunik, where various power arrangements exist. We need to be very cautious here,” noted Anna Grigoryan.