Nikol Pashinyan responds to Aliyev’s statements

Baku is attempting to form “legitimacy” for escalation in the region, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Armenpress, responding to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s latest statements.

“Perhaps Baku is attempting to form ‘legitimacy’ for escalation in the region. Aggressive statements are being made with expectation that aggressive responses will be made by Yerevan, which would enable Baku to make more aggressive statements, pairing this with distribution of false statements about ceasefire violations by the Armenian Army, in order to develop a “justification” for new escalation in the region. We will not take that path and we will remain committed to the strategy of peace and consistently continue the implementation of the peace agenda. This means that we will apply the language of dialogue and not aggressiveness. We will continue to be focused on delimitation, conclusion of the text of the peace treaty, implementation of the Crossroads of Peace project, humanitarian issues, including the issues of determining the fate of the missing persons,” he said.

Commenting on Aliyev’s statement that “Armenia is a fascist state”, Pashinyan noted that this statement is aimed at provoking Armenia to respond in the same way.

“But there is another approach, for us to take note that in Azerbaijan there is such a perception about Armenia, and try to understand the reasons behind it. On the other hand, it is obvious that in the Republic of Armenia there is likewise such a perception about Azerbaijan. These very mutual perceptions had led to many years of conflict. But the strategy of peace is for us to take note that there is such a perception about us in Azerbaijan, and for them to take note that there is such a perception about them in Armenia. The agenda of peace is about discussing, addressing these perceptions,” the PM said.

Responding to Aliyev’s statements about the so-called “Zangezur corridor”, Pashinyan said, “The Republic of Armenia has brought to the table the Crossroads of Peace project and intends to implement it. There is no other project in our agenda. The Crossroads of Peace implies the opening of all transport connections in the region, including Azerbaijan-Azerbaijan through the territory of Armenia, and Armenia-Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan.”

He added that Azerbaijan’s reports about ceasefire violations do not correspond to reality.

“But in order not to make such situations a reason for regular debates, we proposed to create a joint mechanism to jointly investigate each report about ceasefire violations, and draw joint conclusions. We are waiting for Azerbaijan’s response,” he said.

He confirmed that the next meeting of the delimitation commissions is planned for January.
“I am convinced that the positive experience of delimitation of 2024 must be developed in calm, working conditions. We are ready for such work,” he said.