‘Armenia and Artsakh Don’t Want War, But No One Can Threaten Us,’ Says Pashinian

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Wednesday said that neither Armenia nor Artsakh want war, but warned that “no one can threaten the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Artsakh with war.”

Pashinian was speaking at a joint cabined parliament session, during which he said that Azerbaijan continued to attempt to pull the resolution of the Karabakh conflict out of the constructive atmosphere of negotiations.

”I have always said that we should not forget that the war is not over and it can break out at any moment and escalations of the situation can happen any moment. It’s obvious for me that Azerbaijan simply wants to use the tool which it used for a long time—I mean making efforts to pull the [conflict] resolution issue from the constructive atmosphere of negotiations. Azerbaijan has been using this tool for a long time and Armenia has had to resist it, including by raising the combat readiness of the Armed Forces,” said Pashinian highlighting the necessity of installing investigative mechanisms for ceasefire violations.

There is no meeting during which the issue of having Artsakh return to the negotiating table is not discussed, Pashinian said in response to a question from Aram Abovyan, a member of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party.

Pashinian also told lawmakers that the Karabakh talks were continuing and pointed to the upcoming meeting on Thursday between Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Washington, saying that “all the issues impeding the process of negotiations will be raised there.”

“Armenia and Karabakh are capable of protecting their interests in the diplomatic arena and, if necessary, on the border. We have proved this and will continue to prove it,” said Pashinian who added that Armenia and Azerbaijan have discussed who has violated the ceasefire regime and how and that Armenia has facts.