Azerbaijan Has Conveyed: Either Accept Integration Policy or Sharp Steps Will Follow, Says Artsakh President

The President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, convened an extended meeting of the Security Council on March 6, with the participation of political forces and leaders of regional administrations from the National Assembly.

Harutyunyan addressed the meetings held with the Azerbaijani side on February 24 and March 1. According to the country's leader, following the second meeting, the Azerbaijani side conveyed through its channels that either the integration policy should be accepted, or there will be no solutions to the existing problems; on the contrary, there will be harder and sharper actions.

“We do not accept, have not accepted, and today I want to reaffirm—that is not only a decision of the Security Council, but the overwhelming majority of our people believes that we will not deviate from our right to independence and self-determination. This means that in the near future we will face various developments and situations that we must confront. We choose either to continue the struggle we have chosen or if there are sentiments within the community that we should accept the proposal made by Azerbaijan, then they have the opportunity to express it loudly within the framework of their civil rights and say that our chosen path is wrong, to try to shape those sentiments and establish a new authority in the country. But since we have chosen the path of struggle, I ask that, first of all, our decision be respected and that no response be given to any such phenomenon, and not to attribute any internal political subtext,” Harutyunyan stated.