Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev Discussed the Exchange of Meghri Under a Tent, Says Former Defense Minister Harutyunyan

Former Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan stated in a public interview that the Meghri option was discussed in the presence of Robert Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev during the 1999 Sadarak negotiations. This was conveyed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a Q&A session at the National Assembly's investigation committee on the 44-day war.

According to Pashinyan, Vagharshak Harutyunyan also mentioned that Kocharian told him that the Meghri option was a good solution for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He explained that at that time, the Meghri option involved the annexation of former NKR territory and Lachin to Armenia, in exchange for Armenia conceding the Meghri region to Azerbaijan to establish a land connection with Nakhchivan.

"There has been a publication in the 'Aravot' newspaper stating that Vardan Oskanyan announced during a meeting with the Armenian community in Glendale that Meghri is being handed over to Azerbaijan, while Lachin and Nagorno-Karabakh are being given to Armenia," the Prime Minister cited from the published article.

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