Members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh and representatives of the executive branch have begun meetings with residents of the regions, with the aim of presenting information on the current situation, familiarising themselves with pressing issues on the ground, and answering questions of concern to the population.
According to a correspondent of Armenpress, on 4 January, the head of the Artsakh National Assembly’s Free Homeland-UCA faction, Arthur Harutyunyan, the head of the Artsakh Democratic Party faction, David Melkumyan, and the adviser to the State Minister and member of the operational headquarters, Grigori Martirosyan, met with residents of the Martakert region’s Poghosagomer, Drmbon, Kochoghout and a number of other communities of the sub-district.
“At the end of the year we had decided to carry out these visits, to present the current situation in the communities, the next steps, as well as to listen to the problems they have raised, which have arisen as a result of the blockade. During this period a considerable number of questions have also accumulated, which need to be answered. Through feedback we also receive from the population those questions that require urgent solutions,” noted Arthur Harutyunyan, stating that in the coming days these meetings with the residents of the communities of Artsakh’s regions will be ongoing.
During the meetings, the members of the Artsakh National Assembly and representatives of the executive branch presented the problems caused by Azerbaijan’s closure of the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the outside world, as well as the ways of solving them.
Residents of the communities raised issues related to security, the provision of fuel for transporting patients, and the negotiations on unblocking the route.
The members of parliament emphasised unity and solidarity in terms of solving the existing problems, also assuring that in Artsakh there are stocks of certain types of essential foodstuffs, which will suffice for a considerable time should the blockade continue.
Deputy David Melkumyan also addressed the Azerbaijani disinformation of these days regarding the blockade, the purpose of which is to sow panic in Artsakh.
In his words, the purpose of such visits and meetings is also to convey correct information to the population.
Members of the Artsakh National Assembly and representatives of the executive branch urged the public not to yield to propaganda sowing anti-Russian sentiments.
“The Russian Federation, in the person of the peacekeepers deployed in Artsakh, is at this moment the only factor reducing the likelihood of a large-scale war,” stressed Arthur Harutyunyan.
The adviser to the State Minister and member of the operational headquarters, Grigori Martirosyan, also addressed issues related to the available stocks of foodstuffs and fuel.
“Years ago a certain state reserve was formed, but of long-preservation foodstuffs — specifically flour, canned goods, wheat, about 9 types of products. They are available and we will not, in any case, remain hungry. The volume of petrol and diesel fuel is limited. When the operational headquarters was created, first of all their available volumes were inventoried and control was established, according to which they are directed to organising the work of special services — ambulance, rescue service and so on,” detailed Grigori Martirosyan, emphasising the need for the economical use of available reserves.
Afterwards the meetings continued in Drmbon, Kochoghout and a number of other communities of the sub-district, during which such discussions were mutually demanded and deemed necessary in order to overcome the current situation with combined efforts.
