Armenia is ready to recognize Azerbaijan’s 86,600 km2 territorial integrity which includes Nagorno-Karabakh, but the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh must be discussed through Baku-Stepanakert dialogue, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on May 22.
“The 86,600 km2 includes Nagorno-Karabakh. But we must note that we are saying that the issue of the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh must be discussed in the Baku-Stepanakert format,” Pashinyan said.
Pashinyan noted that all administrations before him have recognized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
“Armenia is ready to recognize the 86,600 km2 territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. And it is our understanding that Azerbaijan is ready to recognize the 29,800 km2 territorial integrity of Armenia. If we understand each other correctly with Azerbaijan in this matter, Armenia, indeed, recognizes Azerbaijan’s 86,600 km2 territorial integrity, with the understanding that Azerbaijan recognizes Armenia’s 29,800 km2 territorial integrity,” PM Pashinyan said.
Pashinyan said it is highly important to create international guarantees for the direct talks between Stepanakert and Baku over the rights and security of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. “We mean, for example, that the issue of the rights and security of Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh could get forgotten and Azerbaijan could continue its policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide against Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh through force,” Pashinyan said, highlighting the need for guarantees to prevent this policy.
