RA premier`s statements on Tigranashen and Armenian territories in  Tavush as Azerbaijani unconstitutional - NDU

ArmInfo. The Council of the National Democratic Pole (NDP) condemned and called unconstitutional Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements about the  village of Tigranashen in the Ararat region and the so-called two  "enclaves" in Tavush belonging to Azerbaijan.

According to a report received by ArmInfo, the NDP Council called  this statement unprecedented, legally unfounded, unconstitutional,  and extremely dangerous from a national security perspective. "The  People's Democratic Party Council strongly condemns the statement  made by Pashinyan, the self-proclaimed leader who seized power on  June 7, which describes the village of Tigranashen, covering  approximately 8.4 square kilometers, as being located outside the  country's territory. The Council equally categorically rejects the  possibility of transferring the so-called two 'enclaves' in the  Tavush region, covering a total of approximately 35 square  kilometers, without public proof of Azerbaijan's indisputable legal  right to these territories and without the will of the Armenian  people, expressed in accordance with the Constitution," the statement  reads.

The People's Democratic Party noted that this statement lacks any  valid legal, historical, or documentary basis presented to the public  and creates a dangerous precedent for the unilateral alienation of  the Republic's territory. In this regard, the Council recalled that  Article 205 of the Armenian Constitution clearly states that issues  concerning territorial changes in the country are resolved  exclusively through a referendum.

"Therefore, no official, including the Prime Minister, has the right  to declare any settlement or territory outside the Republic by  personal statement, political agreement, or reference to a map that  has no legal force.

The territory of Armenia is not subject to executive authority. It  belongs to the people of Armenia and can be changed solely by the  will of the people, expressed in the manner prescribed by the  Constitution. If statements about Tigranashen or the two so-called  "enclaves" of Tavush being outside the territory of Armenia escalate  into decisions or actions aimed at the de facto alienation of these  territories, they must be assessed under constitutional and criminal  law within the framework of the Republic's legislation on the  protection of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national  security," the PDP emphasized.

The Council further recalled the strategic importance of Tigranashen,  noting that it is not an ordinary border settlement. "It is located  on the M-2 interstate highway, which is vital for the Republic. This  highway connects the mainland of Armenia with the Vayots Dzor and  Syunik regions, as well as with Iran.  Establishing Azerbaijani  control over Tigranashen and the adjacent section of the highway  would profoundly and irreversibly threaten: secure and uninterrupted  communication between the mainland of Armenia and the Vayots Dzor and  Syunik regions; Armenia's transport links with Iran; Armenia's  foreign trade and transit capabilities; the country's military,  economic, and energy security; and Armenia's future as a sovereign  transit state," the PDP noted.

In this regard, the Council called it unacceptable to transfer any  section of Armenia's strategic highway to the control of a state that  has pursued a hostile policy toward the Republic for decades, or to  subject the country's internal communications to the arbitrary  decisions of that state. The PDP also noted that the importance of  Tigranashen will further increase after the full launch of the  India-Iran-Armenia-Georgia- Black Sea-Europe international transport  route. "The implementation of this project has the potential to  transform Armenia into a vital transit hub connecting the Indian  Ocean and the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea and Europe. Armenia's  loss of sovereignty over Tigranashen will jeopardize not only the  country's internal communications but also the security, continuity,  and reliability of this strategically important international route,"  the PDP Council explained.

The political party also presented the consequences of transferring  Armenian territories in Tavush.  Specifically, it is noted that  establishing Azerbaijani control over these areas deep in Armenia's  northeastern region would create pockets of foreign control, disrupt  or permanently threaten Armenia- Georgia interstate and intercommunal  roads, access to agricultural pastures, and disrupt the normal life  of border settlements.

"Such a decision could: jeopardize the security of Voskepar, Kirants,  Baganis, and adjacent communities, the freedom of movement of  residents, and the ability to use their property. Furthermore, it  could provide Azerbaijan with new military and observation posts  within or near Armenian territory; make communications in  northeastern Armenia and the vital road link to Georgia vulnerable;  and increase the risk of blockades, road closures, forced  displacement of the population, and the advancement of new  territorial demands," the PDP concluded.

Let us recall that at a briefing on August 20, Pashinyan stated that  Artsvashen is the territory of Armenia, while Tigranashen (which the  Armenian prime minister called by its Azerbaijani name, Kyarki -  ed.), Barkhudarlu, Sofulu, and Upper Voskepar (in relation to the  latter, Pashinyan again used the Azerbaijani name, Yukhari-Askipara -  ed.) are not.