Arsen Torosyan Responds to Bayramov

Bakuwas rejecting Yerevan's proposal to withdraw troops from the border in a mirror-like manner, stating that they provide no reasonable justification, responds to yesterday's statement by Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, says ruling party MP Arsen Torosyan in an interview with 'Azatutyun'.

According to Torosyan, Azerbaijan is rejecting the Armenian side's proposal to strengthen its negotiating position, while if Baku's goal is real peace, they should agree to this and other principles.

“There is something strange about them; the maps are not there, they are not delimited, but in fact everything is present, and according to the Almaty Declaration of 1991, both republics gained independence based on their administrative Soviet borders, which exist,” said Torosyan.

Official Yerevan first spoke about the mirror-like withdrawal of troops from the border in May 2021, when Azerbaijani armed forces invaded the territory of the Black Lake in the Syunik region. It was during that time that Prime Minister Pashinyan proposed a mutual withdrawal of troops, which did not receive a positive response in Baku.

Subsequently, the Armenian side regularly reiterated this proposal. Recently, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also discussed this, expressing hope to reach an agreement with Baku on this issue. However, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister not only rejected this proposal but insisted that the Azerbaijani armed forces are stationed in their territories.

“The Azerbaijani army reached these borders not by someone's goodwill or invitation, but liberated its territories after 30 years of bloodshed and is now stationed at the borders,” said Jeyhun Bayramov.

The representative of Armenia’s ruling party counters that Azerbaijan’s claim has no basis. According to Armenian sources, after the 44-day war, Baku occupied about 150 square kilometers in Syunik, Vayots Dzor, and Gegharkunik.

Arsen Torosyan emphasizes that if both countries recognize each other’s borders based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, then territorial integrity must be restored along the entire border.

“We are talking about delimitation and demarcation of the entire border, and by the way, not only with Azerbaijan but also with Nakhchivan. During this conflict, both during the recent invasion and during the clashes in the 90s, the violated borders must be restored,” Torosyan stressed.

When asked at what stage the Armenian side envisions the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian territory, the ruling party MP stated that it is important for principles to be clearly enshrined in the peace agreement.