Armenia`s premier has no right to decide Artsakh`s fate - Ruben  Vardanyan 

ArmInfo.Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinyan's statement recognizing Nagorno- Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan does not meant at all it is a definitive decision. Moreover, it does not at all mean the decision will be put into practice, former state minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan said in an interview with tvrain.tv. 

First, Armenia's premier has no right to decide on behalf of the  Artsakh people, who are living san independent life. Secondly, even  Armenian laws set numerous restrictions preventing one person from  making such a decision. Thirdly, in coming to power Nikol Pashinyan  promised no one would have the right to make such a decision except  for the Artsakh people.  

"So I would not dramatize now, and I think the statement Pashinyan  made is his personal opinion he is trying to force on the people. But  it will not be accepted and I think most people will rally and demand  a referendum," Mr Vardanyan stated.  

A referendum is needed for the premier to personally be convinced the  people of Artsakh and Armenia are unanimous in their disagreement  with Armenia's leadership and regard as impossible recognition of  Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. 

"The people's will is above all. So the 120,000 people, including  30,000 children, have the right to decide their future, and no one  can force any decisions on them," Mr Vardanyan said. According to  him, the Armenian premier's "disapproval rating" has until now been  96%, it is near 100% after his press conference. The Artsakh National  Assembly and people are unanimous in that it is only the Artsakh  people and the popularly elected government that have the right to  make such a decision. 

As to the reasons for Pashinyan's statement, Mr Vardanyan pointed out  that he is not informed of everything going on behind the scenes.  "But one thing that can be said is that a person that lost war feels  psychologically uncomfortable, and although he was re-elected in  2022, he is obviously under such a pressure that he has not been able  to cope with the defeatist feelings," Mr Vardanyan said. 

According to him, Armenia's premier is not aware of what he says. "It  is not just recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, but a  great number of fatal consequences that can by no means be prevented.  So he is either unaware of what he is doing - in which case how he  continues Armenia's premier - or he is well aware of it, which is  even worse and means disastrous consequences for the Artsakh people.   I am sure that the developments in Artsakh will have an immediate  impact on the developments in Armenia. And the next stage is takeover  of Armenia," Mr Vardanyan said. 

As to Russia's role in Pashinyan's decision, Mr Vardanyan stressed  that Russia has been playing a great role in the South Caucasus, just  as other actors active here - primarily Iran and Turkey, as well as  Europe and the USA.  

"Great interests clash here. It is a big game between the countries.  We are not fully informed, but I am sure that much depends on  ourselves and on how clearly we show everyone, including Russia, that  the Artsakh people will never agree to Azerbaijani occupation, which  will put an end to Armenians existence here, because with the  rhetoric and propaganda dominating in Azerbaijan it is hard to  imagine ethnic minorities living in a country violating human rights,  with no freedom of speech and with a great number of problems," Mr  Vardanyan said. 

Artsakh worked out the following formula long ago: "living beside  each other, but not together." "We are well aware we are going to be  neighbors, but it is the only model possible for us," he said. Years  and even decades are needed for mutual offences and complaints to be  forgotten. But now Azerbaijan is holding Artsakh at gunpoint,  exerting pressure on it, without realizing it will never produce its  any good results. 

"We are living in our Homeland. We are great power. I can cite such  examples as the Finnish war, war in Vietnam, Cuba. We have numerous  examples of small states defending their right to life despite the  great military superiority [of the enemy], if you have the will to  fight to the end. We are fighting for our right to live in our land,  in our Homeland, and we are greatly inspired by that," Mr Vardanyan  said.