Azerbaijan`s narrative about `western Azerbaijan`, `trials` of Armenian prisoners in Baku smokescreen - Nikol Pashinyan

ArmInfo. Azerbaijan's narrative  about 'western Azerbaijan', 'trials' of Armenian prisoners in Baku   are an obstacle to  peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and a  smokescreen, Armenia's Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview  with Turkish media outlets. 

"I would like to disagree with that formulation that  Armenia-Azerbaijan peace is not visible on the horizon. I will say  that it is simply a constant attempt to bring smokescreen along the  horizon so that peace is not visible. In fact, very important pillars  of peace have been laid between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I have  already mentioned one of the pillars.

"Armenia and Azerbaijan, in fact, agreed to recognize each other's  territorial integrity and sovereignty on the basis of the 1991  Alma-Ata Declaration. This is what should be visible on the horizon.  Moreover, this reality has been reconfirmed in the agreed articles of  the draft peace treaty, they sides have recorded that they have no  territorial claims to each other and mutually undertake not to make  such territorial claims in the future. This is very clearly visible  on the horizon, but now you will ask, what is that smokescreen? The  smokescreen is the narrative about "western Azerbaijan," because when  we have reached an agreement that we recognize each other's  territorial integrity, then there should be no talk of "western   Azerbaijan." 

"The trials taking place in Baku are a smokescreen, which have one  goal, at least that's our perception, to nullify the achievements  that we have had in the peace process, because we have been  negotiating the peace process for four years and we have results. I  have already said that we do not record it, we are constantly focused  on the peace agreement, which is of course an important cornerstone,  but the fact that Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed an international  document and ratified it in both countries is already a fact and a  reality. Moreover, we have demarcated border areas. And here is the  problem: what path do we take from this point? I, if you were paying  attention, said that if we are consistent in our efforts, that path,  that project is already on the table, it remains only not to abandon  that project. In essence, we do not need to build much new at this  stage, we only need to not destroy what has been recorded. This is  what we are talking about.

"Yes, we also understand the sensitivities and specificities that  exist in Turkey-Azerbaijan relations. It is impossible to deny this,  but on the other hand, I have already said that we also have  processes in Armenia-Turkey relations. And I just realized that in  the first seven minutes, when I was mentioning the events in  Armenia-Turkey relations, I left out things that I could have said,  reaching 10, 11, 12, 15 minutes. Moreover, for two years in a row  now, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has participated in  the Antalya Diplomatic Conference. After the devastating earthquake,  the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the disaster zone in Turkey,  we sent humanitarian assistance, it is good that we sent humanitarian  assistance, but it is bad that it happened under the circumstances  and due to such tragic events.

"But I say again, also in terms of Turkey's role, here in my opinion  Turkey also has something to choose, because we hear that Turkey is  trying or at least, maybe we are misreading the message.  As you  mentioned, why is Turkey also discussing the issues of the South  Caucasus with the United States? Because our perception is that  Turkey, at least the messages are like that, Turkey is in favor of  stability in the South Caucasus. We see that Turkey, at the level of  both the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is in favor  of signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And if we  understand these messages correctly, at least either we understand  that maybe this also means a certain balance in Turkey's relations in  the South Caucasus or maybe we understand it the wrong way. But on  the other hand, any effort that will contribute to the signing of a  peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will certainly be useful.  However, we must also take into account that Armenia and Azerbaijan  are currently working in a bilateral format, but on the other hand,  we also want our international partners to be aware of what is  happening in the peace process, and we also share our information  with them."