ArmInfo. The implementation of a  phased plan to resolve the conflict around Artsakh will lead to a  mass outflow of the people of Artsakh, former chief of the General  Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Lieutenant General Norat  Ter-Grigoryants, expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"This will be a real crime, a continuation of the crime against the  Armenian people that began in 1988. As a result, not the previous  residents will settle in these territories but terrorists, including  ISIS, criminals of all kinds, representatives of special services,  and other people from similar categories. "This is exactly what  Turkey is seeking, this is the essence of its modern policy. We  perfectly see this on the example of Syria," he emphasized.  

Commenting on the vision of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov  regarding a phased settlement of the conflict, the general noted that  the surrender of seven districts to Azerbaijan has been talked about  for a long time.  Baku and Ankara are forcing mediators to this, and  judging by Lavrov's latest statement, both Russia and the other  co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group are gradually inclining  to this.  On April 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  described the document adopted in April 2019 at a meeting of the  Foreign Ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow as the  most important step in implementing the UN Security Council  resolution on the Karabakh settlement. "These documents suggest  progress in a settlement based on a phased approach. I believe that  at the first stage, the solution of the most pressing problems, the  liberation of a number of areas around Nagorno-Karabakh and the  unblocking of transport, economic and other communications, "he said.   Meanwhile, the surrender of any Artsakh territories will become,  according to Ter-Grigoryants, a continuation of the pogroms of the  Armenian population in Sumgait and Baku. According to his forecasts,  this is Azerbaijan's goal after failing to expel the Artsakh people  from Artsakh in the early 1990s.

However  not being able to achieve this even by war, Baku is trying  to get the Armenians to leave Artsakh by means of negotiations, in  particular, the phased plan.  Ter-Grigoryants considers that Russia's  interest in the phased settlement plan is determined by the close  cooperation of Moscow and the veiled beneficiary of this plan-Ankara.  "Pipes, gas, oil are just a part of this cooperation. I never  understood or shared Russia's desire to strengthen Turkey. Especially  considering that Russia's ally Armenia stands on the other side of  the barricades at the throat of Pan-Turkist projects," the general  emphasized. 

"The threat of another aggression of Azerbaijan has not disappeared.  The enemy continues to arm himself. The authorities are spreading  hatred towards the Armenian people, preparing the population for a  new war.  In this light, we need to continue the process of acquiring  the latest weapons. I only welcome Prime Minister Pashinyan in this  matter. At the same time, the existing weapons should not be  discounted. This is not junk, they need to be improved, the level of  use, the level of control of these weapons should be improved. All  these measures will increase our combat readiness and, therefore,  reduce the likelihood of war ", Ter-Grigoryants summarized.