ArmInfo.The delimitation and demarcation of borders between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan must comply with best international practice and be based on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of the United Nations and the Helsinki Final Act, reads a draft statement of the National Assembly, presented by the opposition faction "Armenia", in connection with the beginning of the process of delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
The statement, which was presented by NA deputy Artur Khachatryan at the meeting of the RA NA Committee on Foreign Relations on April 23, indicates the inadmissibility of the use of force or the threat of its use when concluding any international agreement. The delimitation and demarcation of borders between the two states can be carried out in an atmosphere of trust, for which the most important prerequisites are the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, the cessation of expansionist rhetoric on the part of Azerbaijan, the return of all prisoners of war and detainees, the solution of existing humanitarian problems, the preservation of cultural , historical and spiritual heritage.
Moreover, delimitation and demarcation between states should in no way limit the right of the people of Artsakh to collectively return to Nagorno-Karabakh under international guarantees with the determination of the final status of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The statement also noted that the delimitation and demarcation of borders between the two countries are consistent processes that take into account international law and best practices. When changing the borders of Armenia, a referendum is necessary.
In work on border delimitation, one should use not only maps drawn up on the basis of relevant legal acts, including those available at the General Staff of the Russian Federation, but also delimitation activities carried out by legal representatives of the bodies of the two former Soviet republics. The agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of borders between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan should ensure the complete and simultaneous unblocking of transport and other communication channels with the impossibility of limiting their sovereignty.
The Government of the Republic of Armenia and persons representing the Republic of Armenia are obliged to follow the above approaches and refrain from making any territorial concessions under the threat of violence, which is considered a criminal offense. The transfer of territory under the sovereign jurisdiction of Armenia to Azerbaijan is impossible without a decision being made in a referendum. The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia calls on international organizations, parliaments of UN member countries to defend this position of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, condemn the aggression carried out by Azerbaijan against the Armenian people, take actions to suppress them and involve Azerbaijan in the peaceful negotiation process. The Parliament of Armenia calls on Armenians around the world to make efforts to push the international community to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, the rights of the Armenian people in accordance with the above position.
The deputy called on the authorities, as part of the delimitation process, to demand that Azerbaijan return the captured sovereign territories of Armenia. He recalled that Azerbaijan has occupied more Armenian territory than what it demands from Armenia. "We need to demand that Baku withdraw from areas in Tavush, including north of the Jogaz reservoir, and from Jermuk. This is the only way to go for delimitation, and not cede territory to Azerbaijan under force," the parliamentarian said.
He added that the Azerbaijani armed forces occupied about 200 square meters. km of Armenian territory, and instead of demanding these areas back as a matter of priority, Armenia makes unilateral concessions, which is actually capitulation. In particular, as the politician emphasized, on March 9, the seventh meeting of the border delimitation commissions was held, and two days after that, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan issued an ultimatum demanding the transfer of four villages in the Tavush region to Baku's control. He noted that the country's authorities declare the need to surrender the villages in Tavush, assuring that otherwise the Azerbaijani side will start a war against Armenia.
Threats of war, he recalled, are a violation of international law, and the authorities in Armenia contribute to the violation of international law by fulfilling Azerbaijan's ultimatums to avoid war. "Today the Armenian authorities declare that in the process of delimitation and demarcation they are based on the principles of legitimacy, but with their actions they encourage illegitimacy," the oppositionist said. He added that if the authorities, under pressure and threats from Azerbaijan, declare that these villages do not belong to Armenia, but It is unclear on what basis they claim this. The authorities refer to the Alma-Ata Declaration, which, according to the CIS Charter, is not a mandatory document for membership in the Organization. In other words, Khachatryan continued, there is no legitimate document from 1991. , under which would be the signature of the Azerbaijani side. Therefore, the reference is given to a practically non-existent document, the oppositionist believes.
Khachatryan also wondered who authorized the delimitation and demarcation commission to make a statement on the surrender of any territories. "According to the law, the prime minister has the right to form an advisory body and appoint its leader. That is, this commission is an advisory body, no one gave them the right to decide where the border will be. Any change in the border or territory must be approved by referendum," he said, pointing out, that the sovereignty of Armenia extends to these territories. Noting that, in accordance with information coming from Tavush, troops are moving there, he again asked the question: on the basis of what document is this happening?
Khachatryan noted that the main goal of the presented document is that, being an important representative body, the National Assembly should have a clear position on the principles of border delimitation and demarcation based on international law and the best international experience. At the first stage, the politician continued, the delimitation of the entire length of the border must be completely completed, a full and detailed document must be drawn up, if this document involves changing the borders, a referendum must be held and only after all this the parties will be able to move on to the demarcation process. Khachatryan emphasized that the starting point for delimitation should be the actual borders in force at the time of Azerbaijan's accession to the CIS in 1993. The process of delimitation and demarcation should ensure the simultaneous and complete unblocking of the border, without any restrictions on sovereignty.
On April 19, the Armenian Foreign Ministry, following the results of the eighth meeting of state commissions, announced that Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to begin delimitation from the Tavush region and by July 1 to complete the approval of the draft regulations on the joint activities of delimitation commissions. Since the evening of the same day, residents of the border villages of Tavush, dissatisfied with the agreements between Yerevan and Baku, have been holding protests on the Armenia-Georgia interstate road.