During an online press conference for media representatives and NGOs, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan answered the question if Armenia now accepts the border delimitation and demarcation, will it not mean renunciation of Artsakh and recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh?
“In 1991, when our states became independent, they mutually recognized their territorial integrity. Did it mean then that Armenia renounces the rights of Artsakh then? Did it mean?
As for delimitation and demarcation, I will say that it is a process that must be negotiated in detail, and Armenia must protect its rights, interests and territorial integrity. This is unequivocal. When we say Armenia, we should not mean something amorphous that has no limits, but we should understand a specific area with an accuracy of millimeters. This is the most important cornerstone guarantee of defending our sovereignty, because we are a subject of international law in a specific area,” Pashinyan said.
The Prime Minister also referred to the disputed part of the Goris-Kapan highway.
“It is widely discussed that the section of the Goris-Kapan road is in the territory of the Republic of Armenia due to the map of this or that year. According to the map of de jure significance, not the whole road, but a slightly specific part of the road is not in the territory of the Republic of Armenia. And we do not make a pro-Azerbaijani announcement with this statement, but we substantiate with this statement that Azerbaijan is an aggressor. It is clear what the borders and territory of Armenia are. All those who say it is not clear are pouring water into the mill of Azerbaijan, which also says that the borders are not clear. No, it is known where Armenia begins and ends, and there are de jure grounds for that. And we understand the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia within those borders. We call Azerbaijan an aggressor for crossing that border, and we do it fairly,” said the Prime Minister.
