Monday, July 24 2023 13:38

ArmInfo."The risk of a new war between Armenia and Azerbaijan endangers peace throughout the South Caucasus," Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan said in an interview with Corriere dela Sera. 

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan is arriving in Rome today. On  the agenda, the meeting with President Mattarella, the presidents of  the Chamber and Senate, the mayor of Rome. But also the speech at the  summit + 2 Stocktaking Moment of the Food Systems of the United  Nations and at the Ecam Council, a platform for discussion on food  and health safety organized by Ambrosetti. "It is a very important  visit for us", explains Khachaturyan "especially in the light of what  is happening with our neighbour, Azerbaijan".

You are referring to the Lachin Corridor, which is the only link  between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.  For months you have been  denouncing the blockade of the region...

®Yes, in 2023 we cannot tolerate 120,000 people suffering from  hunger. We can't bring food because Azerbaijan is blocking the  corridor. After the second war of 2020, our neighbor not only enjoys  impunity, but also firmly believes that he can further achieve his  goals through military actions ¯.

What stage are the negotiations at? And what is the role of the  European Union?

®The last negotiation was held in Brussels on July 15 with the  participation of the President of the European Council Charles  Michel. But there have been meetings with Russian and US  representatives, as well as bilateral talks between the Armenian and  Azerbaijani foreign ministers. There is a draft peace agreement on  the table. One of the points is obviously the mutual recognition of  one's territorial integrity.  The Armenian Prime Minister has  officially stated that he recognizes the territorial integrity of  Azerbaijan.  We hope they do the same."

But yesterday Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian declared that a  new war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is "very probable"...

"Unfortunately it is a reality. The situation in the region remains  explosive as the threat of a new military aggression against our  sovereign territory is extremely high. Baku is ignoring the November  9, 2020 trilateral declaration signed by the Prime Minister of  Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan and the President of the Russian  Federation, Vladimir Putin. And Azerbaijan's continued aggression is  also taking on new forms. We are witnessing regular shelling of  neighboring border areas. And unfortunately we do not see an adequate  and tough reaction from the international community".

In theory Moscow should be your ally but the war in Ukraine has  definitely diverted the attention of the Kremlin and you have accused  it of not doing enough. At what stage are your relations with Russia?

®We continue to have a very close relationship with Russia: it is our  first trading partner. And we are part of the Collective Security  Treaty Organization (the CSTO, of which the Kremlin is the leader, ed  ), Putin has sent a peacekeeping mission to protect the Armenian  population of Nagorno Karabakh. In addition, many Armenians live in  Russia. However, since the beginning of the war there are also many  Russians who have decided to move to our country and who have no  intention of leaving until it is over. So the links remain. But it is  clear how the war has destabilized the region above all from an  economic point of view.  And if it weren't there, we could have  another type of relationship with both Russia and Ukraine.