ArmInfo. The fate of Artsakh is under threat. Head of the NKR Foreign Ministry David Babayan stated on June 20 at the presentation of the book "The Karabakh conflict and the foreign policy of the Republic of Artsakh", referring to the invasion of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces into the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers in Parukh.
" Do you love Artsakh? What is Artsakh for you? If you love it, you must understand what needs to be done that we don't do any harm. If we lose Artsakh, there will be no Armenia. Forget it," he said, adding that today people walk carelessly around Yerevan, as if nothing is happening, however, everything can change in a moment, and on September 26, 2020, people in Stepanakert were also carelessly going about their daily business.
"You are now saying that the Russian peacekeepers have not fulfilled their obligations, but do we have the right to reproach, especially the country on which our security and future depend? This does not mean at all that nothing depends on us, "But I repeat, Armenians and Jews can afford to use the Diaspora for the benefit of their country while maintaining good relations with all countries," said the NKR Foreign Minister.
At the same time, he stated that the Armenians have an enemy in the person of Azerbaijan, where armenophobia is being planted at the state level. According to him, the Russian peacekeepers also knew that. "The incident in Parukh is not only a blow to Artsakh, but also to Russian peacekeepers. And instead of understanding this, we are also trying to blame. And who benefits from this? Enemy! How can an Armenian do it in such a way as to hit the same nail like the enemy," Babayan was indignant. At the same time, he stressed that if the Armenians have good relations with friendly, fraternal Russia, this does not mean at all that it is necessary to have enmity with other countries. In this vein, the diplomat once again stressed that the two Armenian states are obliged to have good relations with all states where there is a Diaspora. "The incident in Parukh is a terrorist act, an attack on Russian peacekeepers and Artsakh. And this will not go unanswered, and it does not matter when. In general, terrorism will not go unanswered," the NKR Foreign Minister said.
Concerning the future fate of the Russian peacekeeping mission, Babayan expressed his conviction that they would continue their activities. "And here the question is not Azerbaijan's desire. If the issue is not resolved, what will they do? Do peacekeepers pose a threat to Azerbaijan? Russia bears historical and moral responsibility for the fate of the region. I think that the mission will be extended," Babayan concluded.
It should be noted that on March 24 the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, having violated the line of contact, invaded the village of Parukh in the Askeran region of Artsakh and tried to capture the strategic height of Karaglukh. These territories are in the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers. The co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group called on Azerbaijan to restore the contact line of March 23. However, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces continue to be at the Karaglukh height, as a result of which more than 400 people cannot return to their homes. On June 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, commenting on the situation around the Karabakh village of Parukh, where the Azerbaijani Armed Forces invaded on March 24, noted that the Russian military keep this issue as one of its priorities, which Armenian partners are well aware of.
"There are already certain results in terms of de-escalation of the situation on the ground. And we have an understanding that within the framework of substantive work on delimitation that is already beginning, these issues will be considered and will certainly be resolved," the Russian minister said.