RA premier presents his position on demolition of Armenian church in  Stepanakert

ArmInfo.  The village of Artsvashen, which is under Azerbaijani control, is part of Armenia's sovereign territory. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated  this at a briefing on April 30, commenting on the demolition of an  Armenian church in Stepanakert.

According to the Prime Minister, Armenia and Azerbaijan reciprocally  recognized each other's territorial integrity under the 1991 Alma-Ata  Declaration. The Prime Minister simulated a situation in which the  village is returned to Armenian jurisdiction, and a mosque is located  there, the lands of which are claimed by those who previously lived  there. Against this background, it is incorrect to draw conclusions  about Armenian monuments remaining under Azerbaijani control. Each  monument has its own criteria and parameters.

Pashinyan recalled that the churches demolished in Stepanakert were  built in 2015 and 2016. He expressed confidence that Armenia's  response should be based on the signed documents. "The question is  whether we continue the conflict or not," the prime minister noted.

As a reminder, Azerbaijani authorities previously demolished two  Armenian churches in Stepanakert, including the Cathedral of the  Intercession of the Virgin Mary.