Checkpoints on border with Azerbaijan to cause more problems - Ara  Papyan

ArmInfo. The Armenian Government's resolution of August 19 is a violation of Armenia's  Constitution and international law, as the processes described in the  resolution must be enshrined in international agreements, which, in  turn, requires that the nations recognize each other as legal  entities, Ara Papyan, Head of the Modus Vivendi center, said in an  interview with ArmInfo. 

On August 19, Armenia's Government decided to establish customs  control near the Sotk, Yeraskh and Karaunj customs, which will  "guarantees the safety of transport links between Azerbaijan and  Nakhichevan" to Ilham Aliyev" under Point 9 of the trilateral  statement of November 9, 2020. 

"Armenia and Azerbaijan do not have such relations. So no document  can be signed. If it is the border, a document must be signed  mutually recognizing the border - a document on border demarcation  and delimitation. However, any issue related to Armenia's territory  must only be settled by means of referendum," Mr Papyan said. 

The August 19 resolution is obviously one on surrender of  territories. It is unclear what political preferences Armenia will  enjoy in exchange. Is it symmetrical? Numerous problems involving  passenger and cargo traffic between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain  unsolved. 

"In other words, it is one more attempt to resolve grave problems by  means of a false statement, which, however, has not only failed to  resolve them, but has complicated their resolution. And it can cause  even graver problems in the future, especially with no guarantees of  who and what is going to move along the roads. How can the transit  of, for example, weapons be ruled out? So Pashinyan's initiative  remains unclear, though it could be the result of pressure on the  part of Moscow, Ankara and Baku," Mr Papyan said.