Artur Khachatryan, an MP from the opposition Hayastan faction, criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s peace rhetoric in a briefing with journalists in parliament.
“Pashinyan says it’s done, peace is here, they signed a paper. But it turns out there is no agreement on the basic principles,” he said, according to Pastinfo.
Referring to Pashinyan’s claim that the return of Artsakh Armenians is unrealistic, Khachatryan argued the prime minister has no authority to make such a decision.
“There were two ECHR rulings: Chiragov v. Armenia and the Shahumyan residents’ case against Azerbaijan. Now, if people file applications and the ECHR issues a similar ruling, what will Pashinyan do? Threaten them? Jail them to stop them from returning or raising their case internationally?” Khachatryan asked.
He added that Artsakh Armenians never delegated their rights protection to the current government.
Khachatryan recalled that in 2018, Pashinyan downplayed negotiations by saying meetings were just for clarifications. “Now he signs a document where even the key terms are understood differently. Trump spoke of a 99-year lease, with renewal for another 99. Why the rush to sign some paper, then tell the world peace has come?” he said.
According to Khachatryan, this cannot be considered real peace, since Azerbaijan continues to make demands and issue threats.
“What kind of peace is this, when the other side constantly pressures Armenia, threatens it, and insults our society?” he stressed.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Prime Minister Pashinyan said the return of refugees to Artsakh is not realistic. He argued that it is necessary to tell people honestly, so they can plan their future, adding that raising the issue could endanger the fragile peace process.
