Pashinyan: Return of Artsakh residents to Nagorno-Karabakh  contradicts the state interests of Armenia

ArmInfo. Armenia highly appreciates the support of all international partners in the  Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made this statement during a press conference in Yerevan on August 31, in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's comments after the talks in Baku about Moscow's readiness to facilitate the signing of a peace treaty and taking into account the fact that negotiations have not occurred on the Russian platform for a long  time.

 At the same time, the Armenian Prime Minister pointed out that  ongoing work with the Azerbaijani side has been conducted in a  bilateral format for an extended period. This approach has proven to  be effective since December of last year. In this regard, he recalled  the outcomes of the 8th meeting of the Border Delimitation and Border  Security Commission, as well as the Regulation on Joint Activities of  the Commissions signed by both parties on August 30.

"I believe that we need to make a decision on this issue, since the  general understanding was that we are currently working in a  bilateral format and so far we have been able to progress and work  effectively in this format. I directly and honestly told this to the  Russian President during our last conversation. On the other hand, I  an not ruling out the possibility of working in a different format,  as we may need to consider a separate issue, in a different context  and in a different time period," Pashinyan said.  In this context, he  recalled that at the European Family Summit in London there was an  effort to create a false impression that the Armenian side was  avoiding meeting with Azerbaijan. According to him, he has personally  stressed the importance of organizing such a meeting in a bilateral  format through diplomatic channels. Pashinyan once again reiterated  the importance of conducting bilateral meetings, as they are more  effective, and added that such a high-level meeting could potentially  occur even on the Armenian- Azerbaijani border.

The head of the Armenian government once again emphasized that  trilateral meetings could take place, but their feasibility should be  evaluated on a case by case  basis for effectiveness.  When  questioned about why Armenia does not talk about the Artsakh people's  right to return, or the issue of returning prisoners of war, the  Prime Minister of Armenia referenced a trilateral statement between  Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, where one of the main points was the  return of prisoners of war, captives and hostages.

"And in many cases, when our Russian colleagues discuss a trilateral  Statement, I regret to say that they often overlook the issue of  returning prisoners of war, captives and hostages," he noted, adding  that if we are counting on the provisions of the trilateral Statement  being implemented, then we need to go through all the points and ask  ourselves what has not been done.  Pashinyan assured that the return  of prisoners of war is a top concern for the Armenian authorities and  that every possible effort is being made in this regard. This work is  sometimes not visible to the public.  Touching upon the Artsakh  issue, the Armenian Prime Minister stated that he was not the one who  signed the decision to abolish Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan then noted  that before this decision was made, there was a change of power in  Artsakh, "supported by certain circles in Armenia." "As for the right  to return to Nagorno-Karabakh in the way that a group of our Artsakh  compatriots is trying to frame the issue, I do not consider this  realistic," Pashinyan noted, accusing the Artsakh authorities of  signing the document on the abolition of Nagorno-Karabakh and the  exodus from Stepanakert.

He recalled speaking about this in the Armenian parliament, noting  that there is factual data on what happened, and the entire  chronology is recorded. "Returning to Nagorno-Karabakh, in the sense  in which some Artsakh circles formulate it, in my understanding,  contradicts the state interests of the Republic of Armenia within its  internationally recognized borders," Pashinyan said. The Armenian  Prime Minister then shifted the responsibility for the surrender of  Artsakh to the previous authorities, stating that after the Lisbon  Summit of 1996 there was no Nagorno-Karabakh issue, but rather a  question of the Republic of Armenia and the nullification of its  statehood. "This is a direct answer to your question, as the way in  which this problem is presented, contradicts the state interests of  Armenia," Pashinyan concluded.