Armenia does not maintain any military presence in Nagorno Karabakh: Foreign Minister

• 12.07.2022, 18:44
•  World,  Armenia,  NKR

Armenia does not have any armed formation in the territory of Nagorno Karabakh, the Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said.

He said that Nagorno Karabakh maintains its Defense Army, whose mission is the self-defense of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh because a threat of ethnic cleansing exists.

FM Mirzoyan made the remarks in parliament when asked by Member of Parliament Arman Yeghoyan.

Yeghoyan asked the Foreign Minister to comment on Azerbaijan’s accusations that the 9 November 2020 statement’s terms aren’t fully implemented. Azerbaijan pointed out the issue of re-opening of regional connections and accused Armenia of maintaining military presence in Nagorno Karabakh.

“We’ve numerously said that Armenia does not have any armed formation in the territory of Nagorno Karabakh. You know that Nagorno Karabakh has its Defense Army. And the name of this formation, this army hints that its mission is the self-defense of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. And this mission is in demand today more than ever before. The Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are being fired upon, they are being subjected to various types of pressures. When the threat of ethnic cleansing of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh would be eliminated, then I think the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh would be able to discuss other possible scenarios,” Mirzoyan said.

Speaking about the November 9 statement, the Foreign Minister said that the terms are regrettably not entirely implemented. He pointed out the delays of the release of the Armenians prisoners of war and other detainees held illegally in Azerbaijan.

Speaking about the regional and economic connection unblocking, Mirzoyan said: “We met yesterday within the framework of the working group. The work and discussions are in process. The issues under discussion are very complicated, there are very difficult layers and sublayers, but the work is in process”.

He added that Armenia is displaying maximum constructiveness in all meetings on all issues, Armenpress reports.