Deputy Director of NSS says they have no information that a war is going to start in the near future

Information about the expected war is unfounded, at the moment there is no information about that, Tigran Harutyunyan, the Deputy Director of the National Security Service, told reporters. When asked how he assesses the likelihood of the resumption of a new war, the Deputy Director of the NSS replied: "War is always possible, but specifically at the moment we have no information that a war is going to start in the near future."

Armenia’s Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan told reporters that the situation has been tense lately, especially in Artsakh. Answering the question about the advance of one kilometer of the enemy troops in Nerkin Hand and the entry into the sovereign territory of Armenia, Sargsyan assured that there was no progress anywhere.

Sargsyan noted that taking into account the geopolitical situation, it is not ruled out that the opponent will resort to provocations, at the same time emphasizing that the Armenian side does not show aggression, and such statements by Baku are disinformation. "For us, Artsakh and Syunik, these are security issues, we have a humanitarian issue related to the gas pipeline. The statements of the Azerbaijani side are steps aimed at creating a panic mood, an atmosphere of fear, and initiating the process of eviction of Armenians in general. Steps are being taken to keep the tense situation. Let me tell you as of the morning, when I came, and I was at the meeting, at that moment I was informed that the situation is stable, however, I cannot say that there is no problem. There is a certain tension, our own units are vigilant," said Armenia’s Deputy Defense Minister.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Arman Sargsyan assesses the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border stable, but notes that there are some problems.

Commenting on the reports about the advancement of the Azerbaijani armed forces on the border, the deputy defense minister said there is no such advancement. "I am telling you that it’s impossible to hide anything in Armenia. If there is such a problem, it will definitely be presented on the news website of the Defense Ministry without exception. At this moment the situation is stable, but it can’t be said that there is no problem," he told reporters at a briefing. He said measures are being taken to avoid possible escalation and provocation problems.

The Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in response to a query from ARMENPRESS that reports on Azerbaijani military units having advanced is a disinformation.

"We categorically deny this report. In the mentioned area, which is under Azerbaijani control, the Azerbaijani units have several positions which are unfit for use in winter time because of not being equipped. Now, due to the weather changes, the Azerbaijani military is simply returning to these positions. There can’t be any talk about any advance," the Ministry of Defense said. The Ministry of Defense added that the Armenian Armed Forces are fully fulfilling its mission, including also monitoring any movement of the Azerbaijani military and controlling the situation in all parts of the border, including the abovementioned part. The Ministry of Defense again urged to follow exclusively official information regarding the border situation.

FM Ararat Mirzoyan says Armenia is ready to establish diplomatic ties, open borders with Turkey

"Armenia is ready to establish diplomatic ties, open borders with Turkey. I was glad to hear from my Turkish counterpart that there is a political will on their side to lead the process to that end as well. Generally, the population of Armenia wants to normalize relations. It’s also reflected in public opinion polls," Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in an interview with "Anadolu" agency.

"People are already benefiting from direct flights between Yerevan and Istanbul. Opening of the borders will have its positive impact on the connectivity, trade and economic relations between the two countries, people to people contacts and overall stability in the region," Mirzoyan said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan emphasizes that the negotiations on a peace treaty with Azerbaijan must be held without preconditions. The FM reminded that Armenia applied to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship to organise negotiations on the peace treaty.

In an interview with ARMENPRESS, FM Mirzoyan touched upon the 5 principles of a peace treaty which, according to Baku, were handed over to Yerevan.

"As for the main proposals, the two countries, having signed the "Agreement on the Establishment of Cooperation of Independent States" on December 8, 1991, in fact have already recognized each other's territorial integrity and accepted that they have no territorial claims towards each other.

It should be noted that the provisions mentioned in the proposal do not fully reflect the whole agenda of the existing problems. It is vital for the Armenian side that the rights and freedoms of the Armenians of Artsakh are clearly guaranteed, and the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is finally clarified. For us, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not a territorial issue, but a matter of rights.

As we have already informed, the Armenian side responded to the proposal of Azerbaijan in line with the already mentioned position," Mirzoyan said.

zerbaijani Foreign Ministry reports that Azerbaijan's position on the settlement of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia is clear and consistent.

"We do not need to repeat the position that we have repeatedly stated. Azerbaijan has submitted proposals and is ready to move forward in this direction. If Armenia is also serious about the issue, then it should present its concrete proposals and thereby show its readiness to start result-oriented negotiations," the statement reads. 

I think that process should be discussed: Aghajanyan in response in response to the question, whether the people of Artsakh can live safely as part of Azerbaijan

Armenia has repeatedly stated that it does not have and has never had claims on the territory of Azerbaijan, MP Eduard Aghajanyan said this in an interview with "Azatutyun".

"In general, the problem of Artsakh has never been a territorial dispute for Armenia, first of all, it is for the realization of the right of the population of Artsakh to live in their homeland," Aghajanyan noted, adding that from this point of view there are no new proposals from Armenia.

When asked whether you agree to recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Aghajanyan replied: "We believe that it does not even make sense to put this before Armenia as a precondition, since it's already an established fact."

When asked what territories he means when he says that Armenia has no claims to the territories of Azerbaijan, he replied: "We are talking about one of the five points presented by Azerbaijan to Armenia. On this occasion, Armenia expressed its position, in particular, that this process has already been done."

To the journalist's remark that Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that the the whole of Nagorno-Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan, Aghajanyan replied: "Our position also responds to this remark and closes the question in the following context: The territory of Artsakh we have ever... Or Armenia has never had any claims regarding the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and we are talking about the right of the Armenian population of Artsakh to live safely in their homeland."

In response to the question whether it is possible that the people of Artsakh will live safely as part of Azerbaijan, MP Eduard Aghajanyan said: "I think this process should be discussed, and the final status of Artsakh should be discussed, and we should reach the final status within the framework of the final approval and conclusion of a peace treaty."

To the clarifying question, when he says that Armenia has recognized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, does he also mean Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, Aghajanyan replied: "In order to avoid misunderstandings, I want to clearly distinguish two things: There is the Republic of Azerbaijan with an internationally recognized territory, the integrity of which Armenia recognized back in the early 90s. There is Nagorno-Karabakh, the territory of the NKAO, which has had a certain autonomy since Soviet times. And the problem arose as a result of specific actions arising from the nationality of ethnic Armenians living in this territory." 

According to Aghajanyan, it turned into a large-scale war, with the consequences of which we live today.

Other News

• Nikol Pashinyan and Toivo Klaar touched upon the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

• France ‘Ready’ To Help Armenia, Azerbaijan Reach Peace |azatutyun.am|