About Aliyev's recent remarks

In an interview with Armenia's Public Television on December 26, Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of the Armenian Security Council, refuted claims of diplomatic failure in Armenia's relations with Russia.

"The Armenian side has consistently been helpful. Despite being preoccupied with resolving the crisis involving Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin corridor, we did not abstain from the December 23 meeting with the foreign ministers of Russia and Azerbaijan," he added. Regarding claims that Armenian officials have anti-Russian views, Grigoryan stated that collaboration with Russian counterparts is ongoing. "According to the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020, the Russian side is in charge of the Lachin Corridor," he claimed. "In this regard, Russia should be aware of Azerbaijan's activities, which aim to undermine the security framework established by the trilateral declaration," the official emphasized.

He also addressed claims that Armenia is critical of the actions taken by Russian forces in [the separatist] Nagorno-Karabakh. "Armenia has expressed its appreciation for Russian peacekeepers' efforts several times. Azerbaijan is to blame for the current issue, which Russia can settle," Grigoryan added. He reminded that Armenia several times applied not only to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) but also to Russia for help after the September 2022 escalation.

The Secretary of the Security Council also commented on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's recent remarks, which described the Armenian capital Yerevan and other parts of Armenia as historical lands of Azerbaijan. "Aliyev publicly presented his claims to Armenia. There were many such leaders," Grigoryan said and compared Aliyev with Adolf Hitler. He called on the international community to pay attention to this and do much work.

"Our relations with Russia are contractual. We will continue to expect steps from Russia, and if they are not taken, there will be questions," Grigoryan said. He also noted that the blockade of the Lachin corridor is an attempt to push through the opening of the Zangazur corridor.

About Russian pressure on Armenia to join Russia-Belarus Union State

Armen Grigoryan also rejected the assertions made by Alexander Konyuk, the Ambassador of Belarus to Armenia, that Armenians are considering joining the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

"We must understand what the ambassador means by ‘Armenian brothers.' Perhaps there are people in the opposition who are his brothers and reacted that way. Armenia's constitution proclaimed Armenia as a sovereign state, and it will remain sovereign. Our mission is to protect Armenia's sovereignty. The Union State is a violation of sovereignty because, in a Union State, sovereignty is, first and foremost, eliminated. This is the whole problem of the Union State," Grigoryan stressed.

"I am certain that Armenia's democratic procedures categorically prohibit such possibilities, even the prospect of addressing this matter," Grigoryan stated.

Additionally, he claimed that Armenia is under considerable pressure to join the Russia-Belarus Union.

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