ArmInfo.The trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, does not stipulate Armenians leaving Berdzor, writes military expert Karen Vrtanesyan.
He recalls Point 6 of the statement, which reads: "The Republic of Armenia shall return the Kelbajar region to the Republic of Azerbaijan by November 15, 2020, and the Lachin region by December 1, 2020. The Lachin corridor (5 km wide), which will provide for communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia and at the same time will not affect the city of Shushi, shall remain under the control of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation. The Parties have agreed that a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined within the next three years, providing communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, with the subsequent redeployment of Russian peacekeeping troops to protect this route."
"The question here is only distancing the road from Shushi. It is a question of a road bypassing Shushi rather than of vacation of Berdzor or evacuation of Berdzor residents," Mr Vstanesyan wrote.
Tigran Abrahamyan, a member of the opposition parliamentary faction, points out that he has for a week been studying the motives behind Azerbaijan's latest aggression.
"That was a well-thought-out operation in political, military and regional terms. Armenia's authorities urgently satisfied Azerbaijan's political demands at this stage, and Azerbaijani troops are being redeployed/moving toward Artsakh, tightening the ring round it and increasing pressure.
"In the current politico-military situation, Armenia's government is incapable of any actions, even in case of a miraculous wish," Mr Abrahamyan wrote.
"Under the difficult conditions, it is only a change of power that can open up opportunities. Otherwise, Azerbaijan is laying the legal groundwork for its advance as far as Yerevan and it will proceed as long as the situation permits," he writes.
Azerbaijan has presented an ultimatum demanding resettlement of the Berdzor, Sus and Aghavno residents until August 25, planning to close the highway running along the Lachin corridor, while an alternative highway has not yet been constructed. So Artsakh is facing complete isolation. Azerbaijan's ultimatum is in conflict with Point 6 of the trilateral statement Azerbaijan itself is referring to. The international community is silent about that. Earlier, Artsakh Minister of Territorial Administration Hayk Khanumyan discussed evacuation of the Aghavno, Sus and Berdzor residents with the Kashatagh residents and local authorities. However, the local residents will not leave.
Berdzor Mayor Narek Aslanyan reported that the Aghavno, Sus and Berdzor residents will receive housing certificates – AMD 8mln in case of moving to Yerevan and AMD 10mln in case of moving to other Armenian regions. Those wishing to purchase housing in Artsakh will receive AMD 12mln.
Under the circumstances, 56 residents of Aghavno applied to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs for immediate and active interference and mediation by France and the United States for the village to be relocated in the new corridor zone (just 1,200 meters of the area) to avert a humanitarian disaster, which could deprive them of their way of life, homeland and even lives.
"We are also demanding that the Armenian and Artsakh authorities take immediate measures to make Aghavno part of the new, Kornidzor corridor," the residents' message reads.