Azerbaijan Needs a Pretext to Start War: Kristine Vardanyan

If the authorities are re-elected, then "Citizens' Day" will be celebrated on April 24 instead of the Commemoration Day of the Victims of the Armenian Genocide. This was stated by Kristine Vardanyan, a member of the "Armenia" faction, in an interview with a NEWS.am correspondent.

"In one part of the city, people will go to Tsitsernakaberd, while in another part, there will be entertainment and barbecue?" Vardanyan asked. She noted that it seems that everything is being done to undermine the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, to reduce the conversation, and to divert as much attention as possible.

The MP reminded that last year marked the 110th anniversary. "What events were held at the state level? Do the authorities plan to fight against the sorrow of the Armenian Genocide with barbecues? Or with unlimited alcohol? The issue is not the festivals, but state policy. It would be just fine if the festival were held a week later," she added.

Vardanyan recalled that the burning of the Turkish flag, which again took place before the start of the "Torch Procession," is a form of protest. She explained that this is a commonly accepted form of protest worldwide. "What level of sovereignty does Armenia have today, that Azerbaijan issues a statement and orders the Armenian authorities to punish the Yerevan protesters, and then government officials start condemning the protesters with the same words? What does it mean that burning a flag can start a war? For 30 years, this same form of protest has taken place without a war, and under the current government, it has reached this point. Perhaps the Armenian authorities themselves are to blame for the situation where a youth protest in Yerevan can become a pretext for war," the MP emphasized.

She clarified that while criticism of the protest action is normal, it is abnormal to condemn actions that have been condemned by Azerbaijan and to remain silent about the destruction of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert.

Vardanyan added that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is not concerned about preserving the Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh or even in Armenia, only about his position. "In the future, we may reach a point where he will say that the Armenian churches in Syunik do not concern him either, and everything is about his position. If he speaks so vehemently about the territory of Armenia, why is he not concerned about the occupation of Armenian territory, which is equivalent to the territory of Yerevan? What has he done on this issue? Is he planning to resolve this issue like in Berkaber, where Azerbaijan has never returned 800 hectares of land as part of the so-called delimitation?" Kristine Vardanyan noted.

The opposition figure also recalled the contradictory statements of the National Assembly President Alen Simonyan regarding whether Azerbaijan is the guarantor of Armenia's security, as well as that Azerbaijan holds Turkey hostage and does not allow the border to open. "From Simonyan's statement, it turns out that Azerbaijan, which keeps Armenia under blockade, is the guarantor of Armenia's security. Make up your mind: is Azerbaijan the guarantor of Armenia's security, or an aggressive state? What kind of peace is being talked about if Azerbaijan keeps Armenia under blockade, occupies the territory of the country, and holds prisoners?" Vardanyan added.

She called the authorities' claims that war would start if the opposition wins a sham. The parliamentarian stated that if Azerbaijan needs a pretext to start a war, it will initiate one. "Therefore, the Armenian authorities should say: Is Baku searching for a pretext for war or seeking peace? Under Pashinyan's rule, the likelihood of war is at its highest, as in such conditions Azerbaijan will not see any obstacle to start a war," Kristine Vardanyan emphasized. At the same time, the MP did not rule out that Azerbaijan may undertake some symbolic steps to boost Pashinyan's ratings ahead of the elections, including in the form of returning prisoners.