Pashinyan: Armenia committed to remain Nagorno-Karabakh’s top security guarantor

The Republic of Armenia has been and will remain Nagorno-Karabakh’s (Artsakh) top security guarantor, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said today, addressing the National Security Council’s (NSC) special sitting in capital Stepanakert.

Pashinyan travelled to Artsakh on Monday afternoon to chair the joint meeting attended also by President Bako Sahakyan.   

The premier hailed event as a symbolic moment "marking a historic chapter"  for the two Armenian republics.

He promised, as a prime minister “enjoying the Armenian population’s vote of confidence” to keep the issue high on the agenda of his negotiations with the president of Azerbaijan and the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

“I find it important to underline that Artsakh’s participation in this negotiation process is not just a whim for us - let alone a precondition. It is the simple restatement of the fact that Artsakh’s engagement is pivotal to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh [conflict]. This kind of position reflects our respect for not only the people – as well as the rights [of the people] of Artsakh, but also all our partners in the negotiation process, because we pursue a genuine interest. We are eager to achieve the exclusively peaceful settlement of this conflict and do believe in this negotiation process - whose effectiveness is a top priority for us,” Pashinyan said.  

He further dismissed the allegations that the prime minister and the government of Armenia are “attempting to shake off responsibility” in that way, “laying the entire burden on the authorities of Artsakh”. “Not to leave room for future speculations I find it important to underline that the Republic of Armenia has been, is and will remain the number one security guarantor of Artsakh,demonstrating its full engagement in this peace process,” he added.