Can the Artsakh War Become One of the Conflicts of 2023? Interview with the Armenian Ambassador to Spain for El Mundo

The Armenian Ambassador to Spain, Sos Avetisyan, gave an interview to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, where he presented Azerbaijan's aggressive moves and provocations against Artsakh and Armenia, discussed the blockade of the Lachin corridor, the resulting humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, and other topics. "Armenpress" presents the interview.

  - What is the current situation following the 2020 conflict with Azerbaijan?

- Since the ceasefire in 2020, Azerbaijan's aggressions against Armenia have never ceased. The latest Azerbaijani aggression has already been condemned by Spain through an institutional declaration from the Congress of Deputies. They are doing everything to make the lives of Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh impossible. Since December, a number of fake eco-activists have blocked Karabakh, but they are actually agents of the Azerbaijani security services.

 - How did the blockade begin?

- The only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia has been closed by these "eco-activists." According to our agreement, the road was supposed to be monitored by Russian peacekeeping forces, and Azerbaijan was supposed to guarantee free movement through it. This agreement was signed by the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan and our Prime Minister.

 - What are the arguments of these alleged eco-activists?

- They claim that the mines in Nagorno-Karabakh [including gold and copper mines, among others] should not be exploited because they pollute the environment, and resources are being depleted... One day, they will say it is not permissible to cultivate land or open shops. Overall, they make life impossible for Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh; this is a very clear instance of ethnic cleansing.

 - Does the Armenian government doubt that the eco-activists are fake?

- It is not just doubting; there are studies in open sources that show that some of these eco-activists, for example, are representatives of the Azerbaijani armed forces. Organizations like FreedomHouse assess the level of democracy in Azerbaijan and prove that, unlike civil organizations operating in the West, there are none like that in Azerbaijan. Therefore, it is very hard to believe they are eco-activists, especially when they are wearing fur coats.

 - What is the situation of the 120,000 Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh after more than a month with almost no supplies?

- A coupon system has now been implemented so they can access food. People are suffering. There are many families who have been separated; they went to Armenia to visit their loved ones for Christmas or to watch the Junior Eurovision and are now unable to return because the corridor is closed. Gas, electricity, and water have also been cut off... It is sheer horror in a very cold mountainous area. They have even terrorized children. On January 17, Azerbaijani soldiers stormed a bus full of 13-year-old children, shouting 'Azerbaijan!', filmed everyone, and frightened them. Just imagine what kind of organizations can carry out this. It is ethnic cleansing - now it is more mild; perhaps in another time, it will be hotter.

 - What happened in 2021?

- The ceasefire announcement states that the troops should remain where they were, and therefore there should no longer be captives. However, in 2021, 70 people were taken captive and transferred to Azerbaijan. We freed all Azerbaijani captives, while they only freed some of theirs - turning the issue of repatriation of the others into a subject of political maneuvering and pressure.

 - There were also battles last year.

- They captured the village of Farukh, violating the agreement on not moving troops. In addition, they cut off gas supplies in the winter, snipers shoot at tractors engaged in farming so that the population always feels threatened, and at night, they shine very powerful spotlights into houses... What is happening now is merely a continuation of the past.

 - Has the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh been overshadowed due to the war in Ukraine?

- Yes, but people are awakening because of the war in Ukraine; they want to prevent conflicts. All conflicts have hot and cold phases, and in cold periods, actions must be taken.

 - Can the Nagorno-Karabakh War become one of the conflicts of 2023?

- Since the signing of the ceasefire, there is that probability, but the only country interested in waging war is Azerbaijan since it has understood that everyone is busy with other issues; it is a convenient time to attack Armenia. For example, they have created another 'organization' called 'Western Azerbaijan.' In a press conference, they stated that Azerbaijanis 'have the right to return to their historical lands' and are planning to initiate studies to justify that Azerbaijanis historically lived there. It is clear how they are preparing the ideological groundwork for commencing new aggressions. For Aliyev's regime, it is necessary to have an external enemy, as is always the case in countries with authoritarian regimes.