Tensions Rise in Closed Parliamentary Discussion: Details from "Hayastan"

"Hayastan" and "Honorary Title" opposition factions held a closed discussion in parliament yesterday regarding demarcation and delimitation issues. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan participated in the meeting.

According to "Hayastan," the discussion was quite heated. Initially, the ruling party went to great lengths to hold the meeting in a closed format citing the discussion of sensitive matters. Moreover, several opposition members, including Seyran Ohanyan, Levon Kocharyan, Armen Gevorgyan, Asparam Krpeyan, Arman Ghazaryan, Mher Melkonyan, Armen Rustamyan, Mher Sahakyan, and Arthur Sargsyan, were barred from participating, justified by a lack of confidentiality clearance.

Surprisingly, even Davit Karapetyan from the ruling faction did not have clearance, as he has recently taken office. Throughout the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan was particularly active, diligently defending the anti-Armenian propositions put forth by Prime Minister Pashinyan. In contrast, Mher Grigoryan exhibited a more constructive behavior, stating he is willing to participate again if another similar discussion is initiated.

Responses from both Mirzoyan and Grigoryan indicated that the authorities are uncertain about when delimitation processes will begin and which maps will serve as legal references. During the discussion, opposition members raised several important questions: they suggested that the basis for the delimitation and demarcation should be the contact line established as of September 24, 1993, and insisted that before delimiting borders, Azerbaijan must be restrained from continuing its border provocations.

They argued that otherwise, Armenia would risk compromising its security during delimitation. Furthermore, the opposition stressed that no territories could be ceded to Azerbaijan under the guise of delimitation without a referendum. In response to all these concerns, both Ararat Mirzoyan and Mher Grigoryan provided vague answers.

It was also reported that questions were directed at Mirzoyan and Grigoryan by members of the "Hayastan" faction, including Artavazik Minasyan, Gegham Nazaryan, Anna Grigoryan, and Arthur Khachatryan. From the "Honorary Title" faction, inquiries were made by Takhuhit Tovmasyan and Tigran Abrahamyan. Ruling faction members, including Vahagn Aleksanyan, Sargsyan Khandanyan, Maria Karapetyan, Takhuhit Ghazaryan, and Vladimir Vardanyan, posed questions to opposition MP Arthur Khachatryan, who served as the main reporter during the discussion.