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On September 19, the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations convened an extraordinary sitting related to the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh people today.

The Committee Chair Sargis Khandanyan informed that today from 13:00 Azerbaijan launched large-scale aggression against Nagorno Karabakh, and connected with this an extraordinary sitting of the Committee was convened. The RA Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan was invited for that purpose.

The Deputy Minister presented the statement made by the RA Foreign Ministry, where it particularly says: “On September 19, Azerbaijan unleashed another large-scale aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, aimed at completing its policy of ethnic cleansing. Guided by a sense of impunity, Azerbaijan openly took responsibility for the aggression. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan stated that “anti-terrorist measures” are being launched in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh, about which, according to the official statement of the Azerbaijani side, the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, as well as the Russian-Turkish monitoring center, have been informed.

We strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s starting aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh and the mass atrocity crime which is the continuation of the large-scale use of force unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh exactly three years ago, in September, 2020. Under the pretext of “destroying military objects,” Azerbaijan is shelling civilian settlements, the city of Stepanakert, and other cities and villages.

The Armenian side has repeatedly warned that the continuous aggressive actions of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, the unconcealed warmongering rhetoric, the absolutely false and reprehensible propaganda of calling the population of Nagorno-Karabakh “terrorists” pursues one goal: to subject the population of Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing through the use of force and deprive the population of Nagorno-Karabakh from the right to live freely and in dignity in their own homeland. The illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, since December 2022 and the total blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh pursue the same goal. Among other things, the attack was preceded by disseminating false information including by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan about mining and sabotage activities, which indicates the planning of the attack and the preparation of the information field. We state once again that the armed forces and military equipment of the Republic of Armenia are not deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh, all the news about mining and sabotage operations are false and fabricated.

We call on international partners, members of the UN Security Council which has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh based on the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020 signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, to undertake clear and unequivocal steps to put an end to Azerbaijan’s aggression.”

Mnatsakan Safaryan informed that today, at 16:00 a meeting took place with the ambassadors of diplomatic corps accredited in Armenia and the heads of the representations of the international organizations about which an information will be given, the general situation was presented and the work continues in all directions, involving the representatives of all embassies and missions. Separate meetings are also held with the Ambassadors to introduce the situation and to undertake steps for stopping the aggression of Azerbaijan.

To the assessment of the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan, it is evident that with this action Azerbaijan wishes to complete his policy of ethnic cleansing. “This is also a provocation to the perception that the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh should be discussed between Baku and Stepanakert. In essence, Azerbaijan attacks at this formulation and agenda and wishes to complete the ethnic cleansing. Its evidence is also the fact that ideas on opening humanitarian corridor for the population sound from the official sources of Azerbaijan,” the Committee Chair said. He considered scrupulous and inadmissible the fact that Azerbaijan in its official information mentions about the participation of the RA Armed Forces. “It aims at directing its arrows to Armenia and also preparing aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia. Regarding this, I call on the community to maintain calmness and not to give in to provocations, because there are many provocations in the country, which serve to this formulation,” Sargis Khandanyan noted.

According to the Committee Chair, the claim of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan puzzles regarding the situation that the peacekeeping contingent was informed about the attack, which arises many questions. “Nagorno Karabakh is under the peacekeepers’ responsibility, and the warrant for the security of Nagorno Karabakh, accordingly, are considered to be the Russian peacekeepers. And if they have been informed beforehand, then what actions have been taken?” Sargis Khandanyan noted, expressing hope that the Russian colleagues will answer to this question. He expressed confusion that in today’s statement the official representative of the RF Foreign Ministry calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to stop the tension and escalation. “What is Armenia’s participation here? Everybody knows that Armenia has no military presence in Nagorno Karabakh, and Azerbaijan attacked the civilians of Nagorno Karabakh,” Sargis Khandanyan said, adding that we should actively work at parliamentary level with our colleagues, the MPs on different parliamentary platforms, and raise the awareness.

The deputies taking part in the sitting considered unacceptable the Azerbaijani another aggression and noted that they have already addressed their international colleagues within the framework of their powers. It was noted that in the near future they will inform their colleagues about the situation, expecting addressed position and active steps. Reference was made to the criminal actions of Azerbaijan, the protection of the rights and security of our compatriots of Nagorno Karabakh. The legislators documented that what happens in Karabakh is the evidence of ethnic cleansing.

The deputy of the Civil Contract Sona Ghazaryan referred to the statements and calls of the international colleagues regarding the topic. “I am glad that the High Representative on EU Foreign Relations and Security Josep Borell responded to the situation created in Nagorno Karabakh, expressed regret and called on Azerbaijan to stop the military action. Josep Borell once again said that the military escalation should not be used as a pretext for the forced exit of the local population,” the MP mentioned.

“In terms of international law, Azerbaijan shows exclusively criminal behaviour, it has no explanation,” the deputy of the Civil Contract Faction Vladimir Vardanyan said. The deputy called on the international community to any conversation, which is not only for the protection of the rights and security of the NK population, but also for weakening the Armenian statehood and receiving minor various dividends.

The deputy of the Civil Contract Faction Gurgen Arsenyan noting that the military operations are accompanied by the components of hybrid war and presenting concrete examples, called on the people to be guided by the information presented by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia and directed through guidance of the actions given by the RA Foreign Ministry.

To the conviction of the deputy of the Civil Contract Faction Hripsime Grigoryan, today more than ever we should think about the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, because only in that way we can ensure our people’s rights and security.

The deputy of the Armenia Faction Aspram Krpeyan mentioned about the “Koltso” (Ring) operation carried out 32 years ago, noting that what happened in Shahumyan and Getashen had the same message: the terrorist groupings deployed there should be neutralized.

Following Aspram Krpeyan’s speech, the member of the Civil Contract Faction Arusyak Julhakyan noted: “As was spoken about “Koltso” operation, I will go back to my question to the Official Representative of the RF Foreign Ministry about today’s statement. The latter accused the Armenian side, it’s difficult to say the RA or the NK. She has said that the situation has been escalated because of not fulfilling the agreements in written form. In what accuses us the RF? What agreement has not been fulfilled? Do I understand right that the RF justifies the actions of Azerbaijan?”

She reminded that it’s more than nine months that the NK is under blockade, the Lachin corridor is closed, what has been done, at least by the Russian colleagues’ permission. “I am asking to inquire the RF Ambassador, understand do we have Russian peacekeepers, who have assumed to ensure the security of the NK residents? Shall we expect active presence or not? We’ll understand, can we pin hopes on our allies or not?” Arusyak Julhakyan noted.

The deputies of the opposition Armenia Faction Armen Rustamyan, Aspram Krpeyan and Garnik Danielyan criticized the policy pursued by the RA authorities on Nagorno Karabakh.

In his final speech, the Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan noted that the Republic of Armenia repeatedly expressed its attitude and evaluation concerning the RF peacekeeping contingent, mentioning that those actions do not correspond to the assumed obligations.