Protection of Armenia`s territorial integrity remains on government`s  agenda - Prime Minister

ArmInfo.The protection and restoration of the territorial integrity of Armenia remains on the agenda of the RA government. The Prime Minister of Armenia stated on March 20 during the government hour in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, answering a question from a MP from the "Armenia"  opposition faction Levon Kocharyan.

The MP, in particular, asked why the Armenian authorities constantly  talk about concessions to Azerbaijan without putting forward their  own conditions. According to the parliamentarian, the surrender of  four villages in the Tavush region will significantly weaken the  defensive potential of Armenia. "In the end, who are you, the Prime  Minister of the Republic of Armenia or a real estate agent of  Azerbaijan?" asked the oppositionist, addressing Pashinyan.

In response, the head of the Armenian government noted that Armenia's  security problems are directly related to the issue of state borders.  This issue can be resolved on the basis of the Almaty Declaration of  1991. "The security of Armenia should be based, inter alia, on the  legitimacy of the borders, which are internationally recognized, and  Yerevan has no intention of ceding any of its internationally  recognized territory to anyone," said the RA Prime Minister, adding  that this concept should be understandable to everyone. He, in  particular, pointed to the fact that there are territories of Armenia  that continue to remain under Azerbaijani occupation, which the RA  government is not going to cede to anyone.

Azerbaijan refuses to admit that it occupied the territories of 31  settlements in Armenia and at the same time demands the transfer to  it of 4 villages in Tavush - Baghanis-Ayrum, Nerkin Voskepar (Ashagi-  Askipara), Kirants (Heyrimli) and Berkaber (Kyzyl Hajili). The  interstate highway to Georgia passes through the territory of these  villages. On March 12, Pashinyan asserted that "there has never been  and cannot be any discussion about surrendering villages in the  Tavush region to Azerbaijan." However, on March 18, at a meeting with  the residents of these villages in Tavush he persuaded them to  surrender their territories, declaring "otherwise there will be war."