Rubén Vardanyan Discusses Two Scenarios

On December 17, the State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh, Rubén Vardanyan, held meetings in the Martakert region. He was accompanied by members of the Artsakh National Assembly, including the head of the "Free Homeland-KMD" faction, Arthur Harutyunyan, member of the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation" faction, David Ishkhanyan, head of the "Justice" faction, David Galstyan, and head of the "Democratic Party of Artsakh" faction, David Melikyan.

The State Minister and the MPs visited the "Base Metals" company, meeting with the company’s management and employees to answer their questions. Discussing the current situation and Azerbaijan's policies, Vardanyan emphasized that Azerbaijan is systematically attempting to create panic and exert pressure on the people of Artsakh to compel them to leave. He stated: "They are employing a deliberate strategy of systematically slicing our territory—known as the salami-slice strategy. It is also clear that one of their main goals is to halt the operations of this combine because it provides income and job opportunities for the people."

He identified two scenarios in the current situation:

"The first is to fight. We must accept that since November 9, we have not had peace; in essence, the war continues. Currently, there is a serious information war ongoing; they want to convince the whole world that there is an environmental issue here, while the reality is that this is a blockade and a humanitarian crisis. To win this war, we must be united and do everything possible to show our allies that we are strong. You can only hope for assistance when you have done everything on your part, not by saying ‘I am weak, I am small, help me’,” Vardanyan emphasized during a live broadcast on his Facebook page, detailing the current situation in Artsakh.

"The second scenario is Azerbaijan's desired option for our departure from here, which is unacceptable. We must never allow that. The war continues, and in this situation, we must be organized in our resistance. We need to find smart solutions and be prepared to fight. I have come here to fight and win together with you, to build our life and future in an independent, secure Artsakh.”

He noted that for the first time, Artsakh has faced a complete blockade, but he also expressed joy that this has not broken the will and spirit of the people of Artsakh.

The participants of the meeting assured in their remarks that they stand firmly on their land and are ready to do everything to defend their home and homeland.

At the Martakert Culture House, the State Minister and MPs held a meeting with representatives of the local administration, institutions, various organizations, and the population, answering questions primarily related to the security of Artsakh, the situation created by Azerbaijan's blockade, actions to overcome it, and possible solutions.

"The only path forward is to become one strong fist, trust each other, respect one another, and acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. We must understand and recognize that we are all equal before the law. To restore trust, we have adopted a transparent approach, and that is why I personally inform you every day about our actions, in order to overcome misinformation as well,” said the State Minister.

Participants expressed their support for the idea of a nationwide rally proposed by the State Minister on Friday to demonstrate to the world that the people living in Artsakh not only withstand the challenges and Azerbaijani blockade but are also ready to unite and fight for their right to live in their homeland.