Nikol Pashinyan on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, Russian and Western Approaches, and "Zangazur Corridor"
On November 12, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave an extensive interview on the country's public television.
Pashinyan emphasized that in 1996, the world community accepted that the Nagorno-Karabakh problem should be resolved within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Regarding the current position of the Armenian government on the Karabakh issue, he said, "If we do not want to put Armenia and [the separatist] Nagorno-Karabakh in front of disaster, we cannot fight alone against the whole world because we cannot do it."
Pashinyan also spoke about two approaches to settling the Karabakh problem - Western and Russian. He said there is no basis for the rumors that Russia's proposal is positive for Armenia and the West's proposal is negative. Earlier, at the Sochi meeting, Pashinyan told Putin that the agreements reached in Prague and mediated by the European Union did not contradict Russia's position.
Nikol Pashinyan also emphasized that Nagorno-Karabakh has never been a territorial issue and if the Nagorno-Karabakh issue has been resolved: "Why do not the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh feel that the issue has been resolved? Why have Azerbaijani troops set up positions around Nagorno-Karabakh, and why are they firing at Nagorno-Karabakh? We are not against the Nagorno-Karabakh issue not being resolved. We say that this solution should be seen, felt, and accepted by those who live there first. Why are they always in danger?"
Pashinyan also said that if both sides recognize the borders of 1991, then it is known that Azerbaijani troops have entered the sovereign territory of Armenia. He reminded that the border of 1991 is the administrative border of the former USSR. The Prime Minister claimed that the borders of 1991 would be used as a basis for delimitation.
During the interview, Pashinyan drew attention to the fact that the word "corridor" is not used in the latest statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. Pashinyan emphasized that there are no obstacles to the establishment of transport links between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan: "Today, the government can make such a decision de jure on paper. If they want to use the roads of Armenia to connect with Nakhchivan, let them do so. We have said that this road can be opened at any time."