Sanosyan Discusses Enclaves

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Gnel Sanosyan, stated that the issue of enclaves, which is considered problematic in negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, seems complex yet straightforward due to the existence of maps and their legal bases. During a press briefing with journalists, Sanosyan emphasized that not every map is acceptable, as maps for textbooks differ from those pertaining to state borders, which are backed by legal foundations.

According to the Minister, any area designated as an enclave must also have a specific legal basis. He noted, When the alleged two countries recognize each other's territorial integrity, a demarcation and delimitation process should follow, which would clarify the borders in all respects. We should not focus solely on words, but on legal documents.

Speaking about enclaves, it's essential not to forget our Artsvashen, which is substantial in size and grounded in legal regulations. Once the demarcation and delimitation process begins, all issues related to enclaves will be resolved within that framework,” Sanosyan said.

Recently, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claimed that “eight Azerbaijani villages continue to be on Armenian territory and must be returned.” In response to the Azerbaijani president's statement, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan remarked that addressing the issue of enclaves is inevitable for a simple reason: Armenia’s territory of 29,800 square kilometers includes Artsvashen, which is currently in Azerbaijani territory.

No authority or representative of the Republic of Armenia has the right to impose a cross on Armenia's sovereign territory. This is where the question arises. However, there is also an important nuance: whoever speaks about enclaves must put a map on the table, because what substantiates the existence of that enclave? This is a critical nuance. If a map is put on the table, or when it is put on the table, there cannot be a point on the map; that means the entire map is delineated,” Pashinyan told Public Television in an interview.