RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan answered the questions of "Armenpress". We present the interview below.
- Mr. Prime Minister, in an interview given to one of the Russian media, the President of Azerbaijan confirmed that 15 of the 17 articles of the draft peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been agreed, and one of the disagreed issues concerns the non-deployment of forces of third countries on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and the other - disputes between each other in international courts. What is the position of the Republic of Armenia in this matter?
- We continue to be constructively involved in the peace treaty discussions with Azerbaijan. We have forwarded proposals to Azerbaijan for more than a month, regarding which we have not received any answers yet on the demarcated parts of the border, and this is logical, because the risk of escalation in those parts is significantly reduced, if not reduced to a minimum after demarcation, therefore, there will be no need for the presence of a third force on any part of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and the Republic of Armenia proposes this logic. For us, there are two nuances here. one of them is that there should be an understandable prospect of solving the individual humanitarian issues discussed in international forums in a bilateral format and secondly, it should be clear that after withdrawing the disputes on other issues from the international platforms, the parties should no longer put the same issues on the agenda of bilateral relations. making them a constant source of escalations.
- What do you mean?
- I mean that not only disputes should be resolved in international courts, but also disputes themselves. We are also looking for solutions for individual humanitarian problems.
- In the same interview, the President of Azerbaijan once again raised the issue of amending the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, again asserting that our Constitution contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
- I have had occasion to touch on that topic several times and I consider it necessary to emphasize again that if it is a sincere concern expressed by Azerbaijan, there are all grounds to consider that concern dispelled. Why, because the claims that the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia contains territorial claims Regarding Azerbaijan, it is based on the argument that there is a general reference to the Declaration of Independence in the preamble of our Constitution, which in turn mentions Nagorno Karabakh. in the decision made on September 26, it was recorded that the reference to the Declaration of Independence in the preamble of the Constitution refers exclusively to those provisions of the declaration that received their literal confirmation in the articles of the Constitution. There is no direct or indirect reference to Nagorno Karabakh in any article of the RA Constitution. If we accept the content of the Constitution as interpreted by Azerbaijan, then the question arises, why did Karabakh not participate in the 1995 constitutional referendum, why are there no electoral districts there? opened and people did not vote on the issue of the Constitution. The same can be said about the RA presidential and parliamentary elections that took place after that. In addition, if the Azerbaijani interpretation of the RA Constitution was correct, our Karabakh sisters and it would be impossible to recognize the brothers as refugees by the Republic of Armenia.
- You said that Armenia is also concerned that the Constitution of Azerbaijan contains territorial demands from Armenia.
- Yes, and that concern is based on the fact that the preamble of the Constitution of Azerbaijan contains a reference to the 1991 The Constitutional Act adopted by the Parliament of Azerbaijan on October 18. The Constitutional Act refers to the 1918 to the Declaration of Independence of the First Republic of Azerbaijan adopted on May 28, which records that the First Republic of Azerbaijan includes Eastern and Southern Transcaucasia in 1919. In November, the Republic of Azerbaijan submitted its administrative territorial map to the Entente, according to which the Syunik and Vayots Dzor marzes of the Republic of Armenia are included as a whole, as well as the territories of Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Tavush, Lori, and Shirak marzes. Thus, about 60 percent of the RA territory , the Constitution of Azerbaijan contains territorial claims against the Republic of Armenia, but we do not raise the issue of changing the Constitution of Azerbaijan for two reasons. first, such a demand will bring the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process to a dead end, and secondly, there is an article in the agreed part of the Peace Treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which states that the parties cannot refer to their domestic legislation to justify the failure of the implementation of this treaty the article states that the parties recognize each other's territorial integrity, have no territorial claims against each other, and undertake not to advance such claims in the future.
- Do you mean that because of the concerns related to the Constitution, it is not necessary not to sign the peace agreement, but will the signing of the agreement also dispel those concerns?
- Undoubtedly. If we approach the issue from the point of view of the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, after the signing of the peace agreement, the Government is obliged to send the agreement to the Constitutional Court to check its compliance with the RA Constitution does not correspond to the Constitution (although such a development is unlikely after the decision of September 26, 2024), it will turn out that Azerbaijan's arguments were correct in this matter, and Armenia will have to make a choice between the provisions of the Peace Treaty and the Constitution. But if the Constitutional Court decides that the text of the Peace Treaty is in accordance with the RA Constitution, it will go through the ratification process in the Parliament of the country. In case of conflict between them, the norms of the international treaty are applied. Thus, the Peace Treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will have superior legal force over the laws of Armenia and other normative legal acts after being ratified by the Parliament. The issue of territorial claims will be finally closed. The same will happen in Azerbaijan. In other words, the signing of the peace treaty will practically eliminate the concerns of both Armenia and Azerbaijan, including those related to the constitutions.
- And what is Armenia's position regarding the idea of dissolving the OSCE Minsk Group?
- Constructive. We understand the position that if there is no conflict, what is the meaning of the conflict resolution format? It is not the implementation of an aggressive policy towards the territory of the Republic of Armenia with the development of the "Western Azerbaijan" discourse.
- But Azerbaijan says that it does not put forward any territorial claim against Armenia, it is a question of the right of refugees to return and calls on the Government of Armenia to respond to that right.
- It is obvious that with the so-called "Western Azerbaijan" official Baku wants to objectify the territorial claims of the Republic of Armenia, which, as I have shown above, are recorded in the Constitution of Azerbaijan. If it is not so, and we are mistaken in our perceptions, then it is Western Azerbaijan by saying should be understood the Kazakh, Tovuz, Aghstafa, Gedabey, Dashkesan, Kelbajar, Lachin of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Kubatlu, Zangelan regions. Therefore, the return of people there is an internal matter of Azerbaijan, and the Government of Armenia has nothing to do and discuss here, except for the issues that it is already discussing with Azerbaijan and the security of Armenia's eastern borders.
- Mr. Prime Minister, Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of acquiring non-defense weapons, but also says that Armenia will not survive the arms race with it.
- Armenia is not in an arms race with any country, we acquire weapons exclusively to protect Armenia's borders and territorial integrity, that is, for defensive purposes, and our goals are transparent it is not possible to organize defense with weapons. let's say Armenia had super-equipped anti-aircraft and REP means, what should it do to protect itself from land attacks? Of course, with artillery, of course, with missiles, of course, with other means of attack.
- Azerbaijan in general is trying to make the acquisition of weapons by the Republic of Armenia an agenda issue.
- According to all international norms, the Republic of Armenia has the right to have armed forces and the obligation to protect its citizens, including from possible external threats. Is it a threat to Azerbaijan? no, because we clearly recognize and recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty over the territory of Soviet Azerbaijan, and we expect Azerbaijan, like us, to recognize the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, in accordance with the agreements we reached, and to refrain from the policy of threats every day Threatening statements are being made from Azerbaijan to the Republic of Armenia. In these conditions, our reaction is even criticized internally, because we say that even ours We do not raise the issue of returning the occupied parts of the sovereign territory by military means, because the institutional solutions achieved in the issue of demarcation provide an opportunity to settle this issue in a peaceful, negotiated way For now, it does not respond, and the difference between the military budgets of Armenia and Azerbaijan is already 3 times in favor of Azerbaijan to accuse of arming is not fair to say the least.
- And how highly do you rate the risk of a new escalation in the region?
- I can guarantee that Armenia has no intention, goal or plan to attack Azerbaijan and will not go that way. If Azerbaijan has no intention to attack Armenia, then the possibility of escalation in the region is zero.
- Mr. Prime Minister, will the demarcation process continue, and if so, in which precinct?
- The regulations of the demarcation commissions in both Armenia and Azerbaijan have been ratified, which means that the demarcation process should continue. I think the demarcation commissions will meet in the near future to discuss which part of the border demarcation will continue of work.
- And the issue of regional communications? Azerbaijan continues to develop its corridor logic.
- According to our assessment, we have found a solution on how to reopen railway communication that would be fully acceptable to both Armenia and Azerbaijan it will be quick to sign a contract and proceed to the construction of the railway.
