Nikol Pashinyan Responds to Ilham Aliyev’s Statements
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has responded to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent statements. He made aggressive statements on January 7, he accused Armenia of being a “fascist state,” criticized its military buildup, and reiterated demands for the so-called “corridor,” claiming it “will open.”
Pashinyan responded to the aggressive statements from Baku, noting that Baku is attempting to create the “legitimacy” of escalation in the region. He emphasized that aggressive statements are being made with the calculation that aggressive responses will come from Yerevan, giving Baku the opportunity to further intensify its own statements. This is accompanied by the dissemination of false information about violations of the ceasefire regime by the Armenian army, aiming to justify new escalation in the region.
We will not take this path; we will remain committed to the strategy of peace and will consistently continue implementing the peace agenda. This means we will use the language of dialogue, not aggression. We will stay focused on border delimitation, agreeing on the text of the peace treaty, implementing the “Crossroads of Peace” project, addressing humanitarian issues, including clarifying the fate of the missing.
Addressing the accusation of Armenia being a “fascist state,” Pashinyan remarked that the intention was to provoke a reciprocal reaction, escalating tensions further. He added that Armenia has offered solutions to the two unresolved articles in the peace treaty and is ready to sign the agreement if Azerbaijan responds positively.
The President of Azerbaijan once again spoke about the corridor, stating that it must and will be opened. In response to this, the Prime Minister referred to the “Crossroads of Peace” project that Armenia is preparing to implement.
The “Crossroads of Peace” project envisions the opening of all regional transport communications, including Azerbaijan-Azerbaijan via Armenia and Armenia-Armenia via Azerbaijan. I have already had the opportunity to announce that we have made a very concrete proposal to Azerbaijan regarding the opening of the Yeraskh-Sadarak-Ordubad-Meghri-Zangilan railway. This is more than just a proposal; it is a concrete solution to specific issues, and we are awaiting a positive response from Azerbaijan. Once the agreement is reached, it will be formalized in writing, and we will begin construction on our sections of the railway.
In the interview, the President of Azerbaijan once again spoke about Armenia’s armament, stating that it would only bring new tensions to the region. However, Pashinyan disagrees with this view and is confident that there is no element of illegitimacy in the agenda of Armenia’s military reforms.
He also reiterated that Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity of all its neighbors, including Azerbaijan, and in return expects the clear and unconditional recognition of Armenia’s territorial integrity from Azerbaijan. Armenia does not set the goal of reclaiming more than 200 square kilometers of occupied territory through military means, because the process of border delimitation provides the opportunity to address this issue peacefully and through negotiations.
With the recording of all this, no one can challenge Armenia’s right to have a defensive army. Regarding concerns about armament, we also have concerns about Azerbaijan’s armament and have heard their concerns as well. This is why we have proposed the creation of a mutual arms control mechanism with Azerbaijan and are awaiting their response.
In recent days, Azerbaijan has once again begun spreading disinformation, which Armenia’s Ministry of Defense has refuted. To avoid such situations becoming a source of recurring debates, Armenia has proposed establishing a joint mechanism to jointly verify every report of ceasefire violations and reach mutual conclusions. However, Azerbaijan has not yet responded.
Pashinyan also confirmed that a meeting of the border delimitation groups is planned for January.