ArmInfo.The escalation by Azerbaijan is aimed at undermining the implementation of the November 9 statement, Armenia's Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Azerbaijan is constantly speaking of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army and of its deployment along the Line of Contact.
"If the Russian peacekeeping forces and Azerbaijan guarantee the integrity of the Line of Contact, the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army will not have to carry out combat missions, I think. It became necessary only after Azerbaijan's refusal to sign the peacekeepers' mandate and its regular violations of the November 9, 2020 statement, including the point on all the hostilities, which is the essence of the document," the premier said.
Baku is constantly abusing the topic of Armenian armed forces' alleged presence in Nagorno-Karabakh. "I am officially stating that no servicemen of the Republic of Armenia are deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh," Mr Pashinyan said.
As regards the present escalation, he pointed out that Azerbaijan used the issue of a new route of the Lachin corridor as a pretext for it - "it has allegedly completed the construction and, therefore, a number of section of the currently operating corridor must be brought under it control."
Such statements by Azerbaijan are also a gross violation of the November 9, 2020, statement, Armenia's premier said.
Specifically, according to Point 6 of the statement, "the Parties have agreed that a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined within the next three years, providing communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, with the subsequent redeployment of Russian peacekeeping troops to protect this route. The Republic of Azerbaijan shall guarantee traffic safety for citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions along the Lachin corridor."
"As of now, no plan agreed on by all the three parties is available. Armenia has several times offered and is offering to do it now - approving a trilateral plan," Mr Pashinyan said. He stressed that the statement stipulates a "plan" and "redeployment of Russian peacekeeping troops." Under the plan, a number of all- important issues need to be specified, including electric power and gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as security issues.
Armenia has launched the Kornidzor-Tegh (M-12) highway renovation project. And highway is expected to establish a connection with the new Lachin corridor route, Mr Pashinyan said.
Azerbaijan is claiming Armenia is seeking to avoid discussing the issues, which claim is absurd. Armenia's premier announced the programme at his Jun 27 online new conference.
"Azerbaijan resorted to escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh immediately after the launched the Kornidzor- Tegh (M-12) highway renovation project was launched," Armenia's premier said.
The latest escalation by Azerbaijan is aimed at undermining the implementation of the November 9 2020 statement, Armenia's premier said.