ArmInfo.On the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the Artsakh movement, the leaders of Artsakh and opposition members of the Armenian parliament visited the Yerablur military pantheon to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for their homeland.
In an interview with journalists, Artsakh National Assembly member Metaxe Hakobyan reflected on how 37 years ago, the Armenian people demonstrated their unity and desire to reunite Artsakh with Armenia. She emphasized that after nearly four decades, particularly after the loss of Artsakh, the Armenian people are once again in need of this reunification. At the same time, the MP emphasized that there has never been such an anti-national government in the history of Armenia, even during the Soviet period. Reacting to recent statements by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding changes to the country's constitution, the MP noted that the Prime Minister actually stated that there is no statehood and that it is necessary to change the basic law in order to create it.
In turn, Artsakh MP David Galstyan emphasized that Artsakh exists and will continue to exist regardless of the position of the authorities in Armenia. He also pointed out that their struggle is still focused on including the right to return to Artsakh in the international agenda and negotiation process. However, as Galstyan emphasized, the Armenian government is trying to completely close the Artsakh issue, denying the struggle of the Armenian people.
In connection with the anniversary of the Artsakh movement, Artur Khachatryan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the opposition faction "Armenia", mentioned that at that time the entire Armenian people, as well as the Diaspora, were filled with hope. He highlighted the patriotic aspirations of the Armenian people that led to the country's victory over the numerically superior Azerbaijan. The MP also pointed out that back then, the negotiations focused on solely on determining the status of Artsakh, which provided Armenia with strategic depth. At the same time, Khachatryan emphasized that the Third Republic of Armenia was established through the unity of Armenia and Artsakh. Now, according to him, Pashinyan is trying to completely close the page of Artsakh, without having any right to do so.
"We need to understand that Pashinyan is fulfilling Turkish demands, including the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Tomorrow he will change the symbols, including through the constitution, making the people a "jester in a puppet state" where decisions are made in Ankara or Baku," Khachatryan said. The oppositionist emphasized once more that changing the constitution is demand forced upon Armenia by Azerbaijan. In this vein, he recalled that last summer, Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev stated that the Armenian people must change their constitution.