Azerbaijan Could Target the Factory or Erask for Peace, Says Erask Leader

The newspaper "Aravot" reports: "The people of the Erask community cannot be neighbors or friends with our neighbor, Azerbaijan, and with Nakhichevan." The interlocutor of "Aravot" is Saro Aivazyan, the head of the administrative district of Erask in the Ararat community.

“What happened? It happened in these two days. It was all about this factory, that they are trying to prevent its construction because this factory will be aimed at the economic development and advancement of Armenia. It is also good for the development of the village and for defense. Azerbaijan, our enemy, has decided to target us from about 400-500 meters away and not allow any work to proceed. But this issue will be resolved soon,” says Saro Aivazyan, the head of the border Erask administrative district.

He was very happy, excited, and optimistic yesterday as diplomats accredited in Armenia visited his village. Diplomats had visited the metallurgical factory under construction in the area with American investments.

Over the preceding two days, Erask was under Azerbaijani fire. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, the factory under construction was targeted in that area. As a result of the gunfire, two Indian citizens were injured, but their lives are not in danger.

The American side has invested over $70 million in the metallurgical factory being built in Erask. It is expected that the opening of the factory will create about 1,000 new jobs.

Ararat Governor Sedrak Tevonyan told the diplomats that Azerbaijan's actions aim to hinder the normal development of border settlements in Armenia, and that the Azerbaijani claims of environmental issues do not correspond to reality. "I assure you, there is no environmental issue; the only intention is to hinder the development of border communities," he said.

In a conversation with Saro Aivazyan, he emphasizes:

- Who says we are enemies? We are negotiating to sign a peace treaty with the Azerbaijanis and we want to be friends, and in exchange, they want whatever they want. Our government is ready to give it.

- It will not happen. How can we become friends if we have had great losses, massacres? I am 60 years old; I have lived among them. They have not been active, but now they are very active because they call themselves a victorious state. However, I still do not consider them victorious. They want to defame us with their dirty games. And today, peace and reconciliation with them is very difficult.

- But the Armenian government believes that this should be done and is ready to do so at any cost, they keep announcing it.

- The government can do that, but the people, the people of our Erask community, cannot be neighbors or friends with Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan.

- Why can't you? Let's suppose a peace treaty is signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on which we become friends; what will you do?

- If it is signed, we will live on our side, they can live on their side; we should not interact, as that will lead to bad things as well. This way of living is possible, says Saro Aivazyan. He leaves the question of enclaves and their return unaddressed.

- As the head of the administrative district, I cannot address these issues. I am a participant in the war; I have gone through the road, I have been injured... Now I want to live in peace; may God grant peace.

- But Azerbaijan wants something in return for that peace, constantly. Should we give?

- Well, now, that’s how it is for them. For peace, they may destroy this factory, they may destroy Erask—how do we give, who will give? There is no one to give, but there are many who want.

- The authorities are ready to give...

- Thank you.

- What do you say about coexistence with Azerbaijanis? It is rumored that they want to return Azerbaijanis who left here in the 1990s.

- That will not happen; that won't happen. Those are just words. They will not return, and we do not want them, even if we have lost our homes there, we will not go back. My homeland, my home is here; we are Armenians, we are Christians. We must live on our land. I want to feel the sweetness of my land; I do not want anything else.

- What solution will all this have? Until where will the military escalation develop?

- The solution is this: the provocations from their side will end, and from our side, these good works will continue, and the good life of the peasant will improve further.

For more details, please refer to today’s issue of the newspaper.