VIDEO: Nikol Pashinyan on Recognizing Artsakh as Part of Azerbaijan and Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh Armenians

We have agreed that Armenia and Azerbaijan mutually recognize each other's territorial integrity—29,800 and 86,600 square kilometers—but this does not mean we have given Azerbaijan a mandate to carry out ethnic cleansing or genocide against the Armenians of Artsakh. This was stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in an interview with Politico Europe.

“We agreed that Armenia and Azerbaijan mutually recognize each other's territorial integrity. When I held a press conference, I was asked whether this includes Artsakh, and I said yes, but that does not mean we have given Azerbaijan a mandate to subject the Armenians of Artsakh to ethnic cleansing or genocide,” he emphasized.

He pointed out that this is why part of the agreement is to formulate mechanisms for addressing the rights and security of the Armenian population in Artsakh, particularly the establishment of reliable and substantial dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert, which will have a framework regarding its commencement and conclusion.

When asked if he truly believes that a negotiated solution can guarantee the rights and security of the Armenians of Artsakh, in light of concerns about the potential removal of Armenians from Artsakh, Pashinyan responded, “Talking about a way out from Artsakh means agreeing to the ethnic cleansing and dispossession of the Armenian population there because these people live in their own homes. In an ethnic cleansing scenario, it is not always necessary to physically eliminate people; any genocide has two parts: one is the massacre, and the other is forced migration. There is no such topic on the agenda; representatives of the international community clearly state that the Armenians of Artsakh should be able to live in their homes— in Artsakh—without fear and persecution, leading a dignified, secure, and prosperous life.”