Democratic Values on One Side of the Scale, Oil and Gas on the Other: The World Must Make a Choice - Tovmasyan

Armenian National Assembly Chairman Arthur Tovmasyan has issued a statement on the occasion of the 100th day of the blockade of Artsakh:

“The civilized world has been silently observing the developments around small Artsakh for 100 days. Ignoring and dismissing numerous statements and resolutions of the international community, as well as the calls of individual authoritative figures, especially the decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan continues to keep the life route closed.

The blockade has deepened the atmosphere of distrust between the two peoples. The will of the people of Artsakh remains unyielding. Is there a way to lift the blockade? I believe there is. By studying global experience, we can cite the application of sanctions as an example.

On one side of the scale are democratic values, and on the other, oil and gas. It is here that the civilized world must make a choice. If, in fact, democratic values were more important to major players, the blockade would have been lifted long ago.

The people of Artsakh earn their daily bread. Perhaps the greatest task—from the newborn in the maternity ward to the elderly—is preserving the dignity of the Armenian nation, which we carry out with God's blessing and through our persistence. God protect the two Armenian republics.”