Countries supplying Azerbaijan with weapons must understand that using them against civilians is a crime: Armenia’s PM

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan speaking at the cabinet sitting today stressed that after July victories Armenia has reinforced its position in several directions.

“First, Armenia and Artsakh’s common security system must be reinforced more and from this viewpoint I strictly highlight the necessity of our close cooperation with Artsakh,” he said.

The PM stressed that Artsakh must become a full part at the negotiations and the third is that Azerbaijan must publicly reject use of force and make reliable steps to stop the anti-Armenian rhetoric.

“The fourth is that the negotiations must be meaningful. Azerbaijan’s approach that the negotiations are continuation of war and their goal to solve military issues over the table of negotiations make the whole peace process meaningless. The negotiations are meaningful if Azerbaijan is ready to give up its maximalist approach and be ready for concessions. The recognition of right of Artsakh people to self-determination without restrictions, the security of the Armenian and Artsakh populations cannot be conceded in any case,” the PM stressed.

The fifth the PM said is that the countries supplying weapon to Azerbaijan must clearly realize that the usage of these weapons against civilians is a crime as an impression is being created as if not Azerbaijan is fighting against Armenia’s Armed Forces and peaceful civilians but international corporations and their specialists producing super accurate, deadly weapons.

The PM also stressed that the issues of the people living in the conflict zone must become a prior issue on the negotiation agenda.

The sixth, the PM stressed the necessity of new international monitoring that should be of permanent nature and have mechanisms to register when and which side violated the ceasefire.

“Such monitoring may be carried out by the office of the OSCE chairman-in-office,” he said.

The head of the government also stressed that Armenia will continue working with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs for the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

“We have resolutely denied and will deny Turkey’s attempts to destabilize situation in the region by manipulating the conflict,” the PM said.