Efforts to Pressure Armenia through Military Means, but We Remain Resolute - Armen Grigoryan

A crucial aspect regarding the unblocking process that I believe is now clear to all involved partners is that all border services will be under the control of the Armenian side. This was announced by the Secretary of the Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, during a press briefing.

“The unblocking in the context of the Republic of Armenia means that all border services are carried out by the services of the Republic of Armenia. Armenia's position on this issue is very clear, and I believe it has been acknowledged, and we hope that other partners will also move forward based on this principle,” noted Armen Grigoryan.

The Secretary of the Security Council emphasized that Armenia's approaches regarding the term 'corridor' have undergone no changes since 2020, and there are three main principles regarding the unblocking that Armenia adheres to: sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity.

“Unblocking can occur within the framework of these principles,” said Armen Grigoryan. He stated that various forms of pressure have been exerted on Armenia for a long time to find solutions outside these principles. “Currently, it has become more resolute that Armenia will not take that step; perhaps there was hope in the past. I can say that one of the reasons for the September war was precisely this, because efforts have been made to pressure Armenia through military means to change its positions, but Armenia is steadfast on these issues.”

Responding to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk's statement that the parties are close to restoring rail communication, Armen Grigoryan said: “The primary issue is not the construction of the railway, but reaching a political agreement. Political agreements must also be within the framework of the three stated principles.”

Speaking about the Lachin corridor, he noted that its complete closure raises significant concerns. “We see that the November 9 statement regarding the Lachin corridor is being violated in every way, and this is also the reason why we want to invite international presence to the Lachin corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh, so that the current threat of ethnic cleansing is neutralized. We believe that the presence of the international community can help neutralize that threat,” stated the Secretary of the Security Council.