Tragic and bloody chapter in the history of Nagorno Karabakh unfolded about ten months ago - ERT
ArmInfo. The latest episode of the "Borders" political-analytical program of the Greek Public TV ERT delves into the developments in the South Caucasus, where as it mentions, "tragic and bloody chapter in the history of Nagorno Karabakh unfolded about ten months ago."
The program features an interview with H.E. Tigran Mkrtchyan, the Ambassador of Armenia to Greece, providing insights on the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the future of the long-standing conflict.
Ambassador Mkrtchyan discusses the harrowing story of more than a hundred thousand of Armenian civilians forcibly displaced. Regarding the borders, Ambassador Mkrtchyan expresses cautious optimism about the ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington, though he remains concerned. Baku, among other demands, is calling for a revision of the Armenian Constitution to remove references to the country's Declaration of Independence, and makes territorial claims.
"It is one of the most tragic episodes of modern history when more than 100,000 to 120,000 people were ethnically cleansed. For thousands of years, Armenians had continuously existed in this region, in Nagorno- Karabakh. It had been part of our fatherland. In just a few days, the entire region was cleansed of Armenians. I hope that at some future point, the Armenians will be able to return to their homeland. Right now, it may not seem realistic, but belief in the restoration of justice is the driving force of our life." Ambassador Mkrtchyan says.
"Armenia is willing to sign an agreement about peaceful coexistence with Azerbaijan and mutual recognition of borders and territorial integrity. The problem is that Azerbaijan is continuously creating artificial problems and conducting situational diplomacy, the bottom line of which is the use of force to achieve its goals," he adds.
Regarding the European Union, the Ambassador says that relations with Armenia are currently at their highest level.
"There is an intensive political dialogue with the EU, and the Armenian government is doing everything to enhance this cooperation. There is mutual willingness from the European side, and we see that from a civilizational point of view, Armenia is a European country. Certainly, in terms of its values, rankings in human rights, freedom of speech, and all democratic credentials, Armenia is higher than many countries around us. Therefore, the development of a European trajectory for the country is inevitable," Ambassador Mkrtchyan says.