If They Want, We Can Also Consider Nakhichevan as Western Azerbaijan: Pashinyan

Today, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a statement on his Telegram channel, stating that Western Azerbaijan comprises Qazakh, Tovuz, Agstafa, Gedabey, Dashkasan, Kelbajar, Lachin, Kubatly, and Zangezur. There is no place beyond this, and there cannot be a Western Azerbaijan.

“If they want to search elsewhere, we can also consider Nakhichevan as Western Azerbaijan. 2. Western Armenia is Armavir, Talin, and Maralik—there is no place beyond this, and there cannot be a Western Armenia. 3. Eastern Armenia includes Ijevan, Berd, Chambarak, Vardenis, Jermuk, Goris, Kapan, Nerk’in Hand, and Nrnadzor—there is no place beyond this, and there cannot be an Eastern Armenia. 4. Azerbaijan insists that Armenia discuss the rights of refugees under the narrative of 'Western Azerbaijan.' When Azerbaijan uses the term 'refugees returning to Western Azerbaijan,' it itself closes any possibility for discussion because it clearly shows that it is trying to exploit the refugee issue to call into question the territorial integrity of the sovereign state of the Republic of Armenia and to formulate territorial claims against Armenia. For discussions to take place, Azerbaijan must first renounce the discourse of 'Western Azerbaijan' and similar narratives. 5. In light of the circumstances mentioned in the previous point, by questioning the right of the Republic of Armenia to have a defendable army, official Baku is trying to create the opportunity to carry out unchecked aggression against the Republic of Armenia. 6. The Republic of Armenia's proposal for establishing long-term stability and peace in the region is clear: a) mutually renounce escalatory rhetoric, b) continue the demarcation process based on the regulations of the joint work of border demarcation commissions of both countries following the attempted demarcation in the Berkaberd-Goskepar section, c) sign a Peace Treaty that is 90% ready, d) implement the 'Peace Crossroad' project, addressing the issues of communication between Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan through the territory of the Republic of Armenia and between Armenia and Armenia through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the proposals submitted by Armenia to Azerbaijan following the meeting in Kazan, e) implement a joint mechanism for investigating ceasefire violations, z) completely resolve the issue of detained persons, e) work intensively to clarify the fates of those considered missing, i) renounce claims made against each other, including but not limited to international courts, k) work on the full and effective implementation of the clauses of the Peace Treaty, l) establish mechanisms for negotiating mutual control of arms, quotas, and restrictions on their use, m) comprehensively discuss issues related to refugees from both countries, forming a joint expert commission after the establishment of peace, and n) dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group,” he wrote.