‘Armenia has no territory beyond current map,’ says PM Pashinyan

Armenian PM Pashinyan answers questions on border delineation, peace with Azerbaijan, the decision to suspend participation at CSTO and the question of EU membership

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that Armenia has no territory beyond its current map, emphasizing that no country should have ambitions for land from another.

Pointing to the map showing Armenia’s existing borders, Pashinyan emphasized the importance of legality in ensuring Armenia’s security. 

“Armenia’s territories are these. We should not have ambitions beyond these borders. Because any ambition outside these borderlines will be used as an opportunity to destroy us and undermine our legal position. What is beyond this line is not ours; what is within this line is ours. We are preparing to ensure our security with this logic. Our future work should focus on this,” he said.

Border determination ongoing with Azerbaijan

Pashinyan highlighted that peace agreement negotiations with Azerbaijan are based on three principles: Recognition of each other’s territorial integrity based on the 1991 Almaty Declaration, determining borders within the administrative boundaries of the Soviet Socialist Republics (SSR) that dissolved in 1991, and the opening of regional transportation routes under the principles of sovereignty, jurisdiction, equality, and reciprocity of the countries involved.

Stating that the commission headed by Deputy Prime Ministers is conducting the work to determine the borders of the two countries, Pashinyan noted Azerbaijan had demanded the immediate surrender of villages that it claims did not exist during the Soviet Union period and afterward.

Pashinyan mentioned it is not unlikely that the border determination work will start in the Tavush (Tovuz) region where these villages are located. He expressed his intention to visit the region to examine the situation.

Armenia’s decision to suspend participation at CSTO

Regarding the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Pashinyan stated that they have suspended relations with the organization, do not participate in its activities, and have not appointed a Deputy Secretary-General to the CSTO yet. He mentioned the reason is the CSTO’s failure to respond to questions about its responsibilities in Armenia.

Pashinyan said that if the CSTO’s response does not align with Armenia’s expectations, Armenia will withdraw from the organization, but he does not know when this will happen.

Responding to a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments on the return of former so-called Karabakh leaders and soldiers on trial in Azerbaijan, Pashinyan did not comment on matters he has not heard directly about. He added efforts are made every day to bring back the prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.

Ending the mission of the Russian border guards

Pashinyan also mentioned that they sent a letter to the Russian side stating that the Russian Border Guards’ mission at the Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan ended on Aug.1. “Armenian Border Guard forces informed the Russian side that Armenia’s border protection service can continue border control without Russia’s support,” he said.

Responding to a question about when Armenia’s membership in the European Union (EU) would be possible, Pashinyan stated the people must be ready first.

He mentioned they continue to develop relations with the EU, focusing on mutual visa facilitation, providing better trade conditions, cooperating in the security field and increasing the capabilities and extending the mandate of the European Union’s Mission to Armenia (EUMA).

Source: Newsroom