‘They have sat in their chairs for 30 years, looting and plundering, relying on the Russians’ – MP from the ruling party

If our goal is to sit at the negotiating table with Azerbaijan with the participation of international forces and guarantees, then we must use language and formulations that are acceptable to the international community. This was stated today during a briefing by MP Vigen Khachatryan from the ruling Civil Contract party.

He noted that if Armenia is not currently talking about the right to self-determination of Artsakh, it does not mean that it does not want to. This approach is aimed at not disrupting negotiations and preventing Azerbaijan from acting from a position of strength. 'The whole issue is that saying halva does not make your mouth sweet. Our principle is that the rights of the people of Artsakh to live and all rights deriving from this should be realized.'

He pointed out that previous governments have led negotiations on the Artsakh issue into a deadlock over the years. 'The country has been driven into a deadlock by the economy, the military, and the deterioration of the governance system. We are dealing with a serious burden of responsibility. A range of problems have accumulated in Armenia for 30 years,' he said.

The MP stated that these issues are a consequence of the fact that we have not built our politics on the development of our own capabilities. 'They have sat in their chairs, looting and plundering, relying on the Russians. And they still cannot understand that they have virtually destroyed Armenia's identity as a subject. Now we need to simultaneously revitalize the economy, strengthen the military, build relationships with other partners, and enhance our own capabilities and independence. This cannot be accomplished in just two or three years, and it is no coincidence that we are facing significant resistance from within,' Khachatryan said.

He pointed out that former officials, seeking to restore their privileged positions, serve the interests of other countries. 'The Armenian interest is the development of Armenia's independence, the multiplication of its potential, and the restoration of the subjectivity of Artsakh. But these people have long ago destroyed Artsakh as a negotiating subject.'

The MP from the ruling party expects that at least in such situations, Armenian society should demonstrate unity and present a united front, which, unfortunately, he believes, we are not seeing these days. 'It is unprecedented that Azerbaijan is blockading Artsakh and people are going to demonstrate near the Government building. As if Serzh Sargsyan was standing near the Government building as what?' he remarked.

According to him, we should not underestimate Azerbaijan, as Azerbaijan does not act alone, and we should not create problems for our people out of the advice of cheap patriots. 'We should calculate all possible insolences that Azerbaijan is allowing itself. From the point of view of international law, closing the gas and road is an insolence, but these people are capable of anything. We must have an adequate food supply and gather the potential to withstand both in Artsakh and Armenia,' he emphasized.