Ararat Mirzoyan on the Events in Yeraskh

Azerbaijan continuously attempts to change and disrupt the negotiation process through the use of force, ultimately aiming to impose solutions that are desirable for them upon Armenia. This was stated today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, in response to MP Sergey Bagratyan's question about why Azerbaijan should fire towards Yeraskh when pursuing peace.

“This is not the first manifestation, and I am sure it will not be the last. The other question is that both the Republic of Armenia and the international community must take a very firm stance against such behavior. Either we negotiate in good faith, as it is commonly said, to find mutual solutions, or if it is through the use of force, then such a policy is unacceptable for us,” noted Mirzoyan.

According to him, Azerbaijan's behavior is also unacceptable to the international community. In this case, as in many previous instances, it pertains to aggression against the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Armenia. “These borders must remain inviolable, Armenia's territorial integrity must be restored, and the international community must play a role in this case,” emphasized Mirzoyan.

Additionally, Mirzoyan pointed out that in the specific case of Yeraskh, there is a new nuance; it had been previously announced that a metallurgical plant was being constructed there, which, according to preliminary assessments, will significantly contribute to the development of Armenia's economy. Azerbaijan raised false environmental accusations, while the Armenian side has organized all processes in compliance with international standards.

“The Azerbaijani side is simply trying to disrupt this project through the use of force. This is an assault not only on the borders of Armenia and a violation of the ceasefire, but also an unsubstantiated accusation aimed at disrupting a project that could contribute to the economic development of Armenia,” he stated.

It should be noted that Azerbaijani units have periodically fired at Armenian positions located in the Yeraskh area since June 13. Today, the Ministry of Defense reported that Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire around 11:45 AM towards the metallurgical plant being built with foreign investments in Yeraskh, resulting in injuries to two Indian nationals.