Tuesday, April 18 2023 12:57

ArmInfo.Armenia's Premier Nikol Pashinyan has reiterated Armenia's readiness to recognize  Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Armenia has no territorial claims on other states, he said. 

"Peace is possible if in our international relations - not only now,  but also for the future - we record that recognize the Republic of  Armenia with a territory of 29.8 thousand square kilometers, or  rather the territory of the Armenian SSR, within which we gained  independence in 1991 and we do not have and will never have  territorial claims on other countries," he said as he presented the  2022 government report on April 18. 

According to him, if this idea is not part of popular thinking, no  one will allow Armenia to develop, "because no one will get used to  the idea that we are developing and getting stronger not to direct  this force against others or to expand the territories of our  country." "Moreover, in this situation, not only impeding our  development, but also the existence of our statehood, will be others'  agenda. In this situation, no one will help us," Pashinyan said.

In this vein, a strategic task of Armenia's development should be  harmonious and peaceful coexistence with the region to ensure the  country's well-being and security. The prime minister admits that  this goal is achievable if other countries also follow this  principle. 

Mr Pashinyan gaves assurances that this strategy does not mean  revising national history, but only a change in its  socio-psychological perception. In this regard, he pointed out a need  for a new model of patriotism.  "There is such an issue on the  agenda, and its solution is of vital importance for national  security," he said.

At the same time, Pashinyan admits that after the 44-day war in  Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan is in euphoria and seeks to get more,  and, if possible, take everything. And the international situation is  contributing to its perception. "Azerbaijan has directly or  indirectly become an energy or logistical crossroads, and its  importance has increased both for Russia and for some Western  countries," he said.

However, such a situation presents both risks and opportunities. The  risks are seen almost every day, and the opportunities lie in the  fact that the South Caucasus itself is a large crossroads, where the  role of both Armenia and Georgia is important. From this point of  view, regional stability could be consensus for Russia and the West;  otherwise a regional explosion could become a new problem for  geopolitical centers in terms of energy security, he said.

Pashinyan gave assurances that he sincerely strives to conclude a  peace treaty with Azerbaijan as soon as possible. "This treaty will  become realistic if both countries mutually recognize territorial  integrity and undertake not to make territorial claims on each other.  In fact, this was the agreement with the President of Azerbaijan in  Sochi and Prague>, he stressed.

"I want to confirm that the RA fully recognizes the territorial  integrity of Azerbaijan, and expects Azerbaijan to do the same by  recognizing the entire territory of the Armenian SSR as the Republic  of Armenia," the premier said. He proposes that the Soviet-era maps  of Armenian and Azerbaijani SSRs be attached to the future peace  treaty as a basis for the countries' territorial integrity. He also  stated the need for international guarantees for a peace treaty with  Azerbaijan.