Armenia has always recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and it continues to do so now, but Artsakh has its own territory and status. This statement was made by Andranik Kocharyan, chairman of the National Assembly’s standing committee on defense and security issues, in a briefing with journalists, referring to the statement by European Council President Charles Michel regarding Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
Michel stated yesterday that at the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the parties confirmed their commitment to mutually recognize each other’s territorial integrity, reaffirmed their unequivocal adherence to the Alma-Ata Declaration, which presupposes recognition of Armenia’s territorial integrity within the borders of 29,800 square kilometers and Azerbaijan’s within 86,600 square kilometers (Artsakh is also within this territory — ed.). Michel also noted that the final delimitation of the border is to be agreed upon during negotiations.
“Artsakh is in its place, where it has always been. Armenia has always recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and it does the same now, but Artsakh has its own territory and status. Today Artsakh is perhaps the most independent state in the world, for the next 3-4 years, and then we shall see,” Kocharyan said.
He stressed that what is ours (Armenia’s — ed.) is ours. Asked whether Artsakh is ours, Kocharyan replied that a significant part of our population lives there — 120,000 Armenians.
“Artsakh is ours as long as our people live there; when they no longer do, then it is difficult to say. Today we must record that Azerbaijan must recognize Armenia’s territorial integrity, and we theirs, but Mountainous Karabakh is also located there, which has built its life based on the standards it has proclaimed. Negotiations are now underway,” emphasized the chairman of the RA National Assembly’s standing committee on defense and security issues.
Let us recall that the negotiations between Pashinyan, Aliyev and Michel took place in Brussels on May 14.
