In Fact, We Are Conceding in a Specific Area: Kocharyan to Grigoryan

There is a concern among me and a large part of our society that Azerbaijan will carry out delimitation in the areas it desires, obtaining what it wants just like it did in Tavush, and the overall process will not reach completion. This was stated by Levon Kocharyan, a member of the 'Armenia' parliamentary faction, during the discussion of the draft regulations on the joint activities of the delimitation commissions of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the National Assembly. He questioned what hinders the agreement on a principle, whereby there would be arrangements on the entire length of the border on the map, and only after everything is agreed upon, would there be concrete works.

“Wouldn’t this mitigate the dangers that Azerbaijan could retreat from the process halfway and leave Armenia in an uncertain situation?” Kocharyan asked. In response, Mher Grigoryan stated that the regulations clearly stipulate that the final agreement must be accompanied by a unified memorandum that describes the entire border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “In other words, I do not rule out that there are grounds for the process to break or not be completed, but there is no risk that one segment will be legally defined as a border, and then an agreement will not be signed, and that part will not be incorporated into the agreement. A comprehensive memorandum – description will accompany the contract, outlining all segments. This is the mechanism. If we finish one segment, proceed to the next, then one of the sides may reconsider and return to the previous segment, which would create a chaotic process. Referring to segmentation, this relates more to the procedural, working process than to the definition of the border,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Levon Kocharyan also responded: “I am not speaking out of thin air; the danger is that as a result of these processes, the Azerbaijani soldier, just like in Tavush, will come and stand there until a final agreement is reached. What will be signed at the end is not critical; the danger is that we are effectively conceding in a specific segment. Signing the final document does not mitigate the danger because the Azerbaijanis will come and occupy those positions and areas where we expect them to withdraw, and they will most likely not withdraw.”