Edmon Marukyan: Armenia must adhere to the trilateral statement  to  prevent further territorial loses 

ArmInfo.The only way to save Armenia and avoid losing more territories is to adhere to the current  mechanism, specifically the trilateral statement made on November 9, 2020.  This was the response given by Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the Bright Armenia party and former adviser to RA Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan, regarding the ultimatum statements made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with local TV channels.

"For Aliyev, returning to the trilateral statement is problematic,  because it contains a provision regarding Artsakh. This is why the  President of Azerbaijan seeks to destroy this mechanism. When Armenia  does not return to it, it actually contributes to his plans,"  Marukyan clarified. Additionally, he questioned the Armenian  government's ability to resume this format under current conditions.   Marukyan recalled Aliyev's statements in an interview regarding the  opening of the so-called Zangezur corridor, highlighting that the  trilateral statement allowed for it to be opened as an ordinary road,  rather than a corridor. He also discussed Armenia's stance on the  Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), emphasizing that  Armenia's non- participation in CSTO events  and the lack of a  decision to withdraw could have catastrophic consequences if  continued.

In this regard, the politician emphasized that, the Armenian public  has only two options in the current situation: either take action to  bring about change or face catastrophic consequences by making  one-sided concessions. He expressed conviction that there is no  government in Armenia capable of protecting the interests of the  country, which is why the ruling elite has not responded to  statements about the return of Azerbaijanis to the so-called Western  Azerbaijan.

Marukyan also highlighted the absurdity of the reaction from various  experts in Armenia to Aliyev's statements, due to the lack of a  proper response from the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other  high- ranking officials representing the country. "They should have  responded to the statement of the Assistant to the President of  Azerbaijan on Foreign Policy Hikmet Hajiyev back in September,  stating that Armenia is not an aggressor, and that the conflict in  Artsakh began with violations of all human rights. By responding to  these statements, we could protect our national narratives. However,  when we fail to defend them, we risk being perceived as both an  aggressor and a fascist state," Marukyan concluded.