Tigran Abrahamyan: Azerbaijanis move freely within Armenia’s sovereign territory

panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 18 2022

As a result of various operations, attacks and other acts of aggression, Azerbaijani forces are now moving freely within the sovereign territory of Armenia, MP Tigran Abrahamyan, who represents the opposition With Honor bloc, told reporters in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Referring to the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry that “one of the ways to avoid further escalation of the situation may be the mirrored withdrawal of troops from the Armenian-Azerbaijani border”, the deputy stated that it is not logical.

"Imagine a situation where we conditionally retreat another 3 km. We retreat from a large number of settlements, communications, which gain, for example, the status of a neutral zone. And will be watching over the next Azerbaijani aggression? How far are we going to retreat? If we believe that Azerbaijan is on our sovereign territory, what is the point of giving up 3 km in our area and taking a step back? It’s beyond logic," Abrahamyan noted.

He stressed that the authorities are trying to show that they are making efforts to improve the situation, but they are actually “putting us in a much worse situation”.

"The current authorities either don't assess the new threats to Armenia stemming from this, or, which is more likely, deliberately make new concessions and losses, for which every citizen of Armenia, regardless of where they live – in Yerevan, Gyumri or in some community of Syunik – will have to pay a price," Abrahamyan said.

He underscored that Azerbaijan is trying to put pressure on Armenia and to get new concessions.

"Unfortunately, our problem is not only that Azerbaijan is trying to prevent the modernization of the Armenian armed forces by any means, but also that the Armenian authorities are heeding these calls and in this situation our military remains in a state that does not satisfy Armenian citizens,” the lawmaker stated.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS