Nikol Pashinyan: Nagorno-Karabakh is facing the threat of genocide,  and a way to stop this threat for the international community and  European countries is to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh`s independence

ArmInfo.Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview to the Italian newspaper La Republica. As the press service of Armenian PM informs the interview reads as  follows: 

"Turkey's return to the South Caucasus means another Armenian  Genocide a century later the Genocide of 1915, when the Ottoman  Empire massacred 1.5 million people," Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  said.  "Encouraged by Turkey, Azerbaijan's aggression against  Nagorno-Karabakh is a terrorist war against people fighting for  freedom," Pashinyan continued.

La Repubblica - Mr. Prime Minister, you returned from the frontline  just a few hours ago. What is the situation over there?

Azeris are indiscriminately bombing towns and villages, hitting  especially civilians who are forced to flee their homes and take  refuge in shelters. On the battlefield, meanwhile, there are intense  battles, but the Armenians are retaliating. I can say that the  Azerbaijani army has no strategic gains whatsoever.

La Repubblica - Can you confirm Ankara's direct involvement?

I think this is already an established fact. To make sure you just  have to look at direct public statements. Not to mention that the New  York Times published photos evidencing the presence of Turkish F-16  planes at Ganja airport yesterday. We had been sounding the alarm  that Turkish F-16s were involved in hostilities, and in the end it  was actually proved.  It is also important to record the public  statements made by high-ranking Turkish officials. Let me give you an  example: the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing  countries, the Foreign Ministers make statements that there should be  an immediate ceasefire, while Turkey stated that it hoped that  Azerbaijan would not stop the hostilities. On the other hand, they  keep stating that they will stand by Azerbaijan both in the  diplomatic field and on the military front.

La Repubblica - What about the Syrian terrorists?

It is now an internationally acknowledged fact that Turkey has  brought jihadists from Syria in support of Azerbaijan. That is why we  say we are fighting against terrorism along a frontline which divides  civilization and barbarism. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh stand as the  last barrier to Ankara's expansion. If the international community  does not intervene soon, it will soon see the Turks at the gates of  Vienna, as it did with the Ottomans in the 17th century.

La Repubblica - What do you expect from the international community?

First of all, recognize that Nagorno-Karabakh has been attacked by  Azerbaijan, which recently held a month-long exercise with Turkish  troops.  We must be aware of the threat posed by jihadists in the  conflict zone. And it should be noted that the Armenians of  Nagorno-Karabakh are facing the threat of genocide, and a way to stop  this threat for the international community and European countries is  to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh's independence.

La Repubblica - Will Moscow intervene in the near future, should  Armenia mediate? What are your expectations from Mr. Putin?

Russia has specific security-related commitments towards Armenia,  which shall be applied under certain conditions. I am sure that  Russia will fulfill its contractual obligations under appropriate  circumstances.  I would also like to note that Russia is a co-chair  of the OSCE Minsk Group. The OSCE Minsk Group is the only format that  hosts the negotiations on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.  This, too, should be taken into account. The President of the Russian  Federation announced yesterday that Russia will fulfill its security  commitments to Armenia in case of such a need.

La Repubblica - But the Armenians and those living in  Nagorno-Karabakh are same nation, arem't they?

We are the same people ethnically, there is no difference. We speak  the same language, we believe in the same religion. In other words,  there is no difference between the Armenians living in Karabakh and  the Armenians living in Armenia.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been independent for almost 30 years. Why didn't  any country, including Armenia, recognize it?

The situation is different with Armenia. Of course, we are discussing  that possibility, but Armenia's recognition will not change much in  terms of international relations, because we have de facto recognized  Nagorno-Karabakh and have established relations.  International  recognition is just what can change the situation in terms of  settling the issue. This is why I think that in this situation the  most effective diplomatic way to stop this terrorist attack is to  recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.  La Repubblica - What is  Nagorno-Karabakh ready to give up?

Nagorno-Karabakh has always said that they are prepared for  compromise, but Azerbaijan refused to negotiate. The last time was in  2014, when Baku refused to sign a peace agreement, as it would mean  recognizing the right of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to  self-determination. Baku wants to return to the status quo that was  before the liberation war of 1991.

La Repubblica - It should not be easy for a pacifist like you to get  involved in a war as you say you have been inspired by Gandhi, Martin  Luther King, Mandela:

When there is a terrorist attack, you have to respond. The Armenians  of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot but defend their right to life. Of course,  the involvement of the international community is needed; otherwise  the jihadist threat will spread everywhere, since I am confident that  the Azerbaijanis will not manage to control the Ankara-backed  Islamists.  According to our intelligence, when they arrived in  Azerbaijan, they first tried to ban the sale of alcohol and introduce  Sharia rules.

La Repubblica - This war affects you personally:

Yes, because my 20-year-old son has just left for the frontline as a   volunteer.