ArmInfo.The protection and restoration of the territorial integrity of Armenia remains on the agenda of the RA government. The Prime Minister of Armenia stated on March 20 during the government hour in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, answering a question from a MP from the "Armenia" opposition faction Levon Kocharyan.
The MP, in particular, asked why the Armenian authorities constantly talk about concessions to Azerbaijan without putting forward their own conditions. According to the parliamentarian, the surrender of four villages in the Tavush region will significantly weaken the defensive potential of Armenia. "In the end, who are you, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia or a real estate agent of Azerbaijan?" asked the oppositionist, addressing Pashinyan.
In response, the head of the Armenian government noted that Armenia's security problems are directly related to the issue of state borders. This issue can be resolved on the basis of the Almaty Declaration of 1991. "The security of Armenia should be based, inter alia, on the legitimacy of the borders, which are internationally recognized, and Yerevan has no intention of ceding any of its internationally recognized territory to anyone," said the RA Prime Minister, adding that this concept should be understandable to everyone. He, in particular, pointed to the fact that there are territories of Armenia that continue to remain under Azerbaijani occupation, which the RA government is not going to cede to anyone.
Azerbaijan refuses to admit that it occupied the territories of 31 settlements in Armenia and at the same time demands the transfer to it of 4 villages in Tavush - Baghanis-Ayrum, Nerkin Voskepar (Ashagi- Askipara), Kirants (Heyrimli) and Berkaber (Kyzyl Hajili). The interstate highway to Georgia passes through the territory of these villages. On March 12, Pashinyan asserted that "there has never been and cannot be any discussion about surrendering villages in the Tavush region to Azerbaijan." However, on March 18, at a meeting with the residents of these villages in Tavush he persuaded them to surrender their territories, declaring "otherwise there will be war."