Artsakh is Probably the Most Independent State in the World, in the Next 3-4 Years We Will See Says Andranik Kocharyan

Armenia has always recognized Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and it continues to do so now, but Artsakh has its own territory and status. This statement was made by the Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defense and Security, Andranik Kocharyan, in a brief conversation with reporters, referring to the statement made by President of the European Council Charles Michel regarding Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

Michel stated yesterday that during the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to mutually recognize each other's territorial integrity and reiterated their unwavering adherence to the Alma-Ata Declaration, which implies recognition of the territorial integrity of Armenia within 29,800 square kilometers and Azerbaijan within 86,600 square kilometers (Artsakh is also within this territory).

Michel also noted that the final delimitation of the borders will be agreed upon during negotiations.

“Artsakh is where it belongs, where it has been. Armenia has always recognized Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and it continues to do so now, but Artsakh has its own territory and status. Today, Artsakh is probably the most independent state in the world; in the next 3-4 years, we will see what happens,” Kocharyan stated.

He emphasized, “What is ours (Armenia's), is ours. In response to the question of whether Artsakh is ours, Kocharyan replied that a significant portion of our population lives there, about 120,000 Armenians.”

“Artsakh is ours as long as our people live there; when they no longer live there, then it is difficult to say. Today, we must acknowledge that Azerbaijan must recognize Armenia's territorial integrity, and we must recognize theirs, but also present is Nagorno-Karabakh, which has built its life based on its declared criteria. Negotiations are currently ongoing,” the Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Defense and Security emphasized.

He also responded to the EU ambassador Andrea Victorini’s statement indicating that there are one or two points where Armenian troops are positioned in border areas. “I know that Armenian troops are where they need to be at this moment, and Azerbaijani forces have violated a number of Armenian territories. I repeat, what is ours, is ours. Sooner or later, everything must align with the reality that if you recognize our borders, then those borders are inviolable,” Kocharyan said.

It is noteworthy that the negotiations between Pashinyan, Aliyev, and Michel took place in Brussels on May 14.