1 / 4

During the parliamentary briefings following the regular sittings of the National Assembly, by the proposal of the Secretary of the Civil Contract Faction Artur Hovhannisyan the attendees honoured with one minute’s the memory of the servicemen fallen because of the fire broken out in one of the military units of the of Gegharkunik Marz this night.

Artur Hovhannisyan noted that criminal proceedings were filed, the relevant bodies will find out the circumstances of the accident.

To the journalist’s question, if besides resignations the resignation of Minister of Defense is possible, Artur Hovhannisyan expressed opinion that we can refer to the political and criminal-legal responsibility after completely finding out the circumstances of the accident.

In response to the question on the situation created around the peace treaty process, the member of the Civil Contract Faction Sargis Khandanyan noted: I would not hurry making conclusions that the process of the peace treaty is in deadlock. The Foreign Minister also reaffirmed that yesterday that the discussions on the peace treaty text continue. Armenia has sent the last proposals to Azerbaijan and is waiting for response. Of course, the behaviour and actions of Azerbaijan impede the process, it is about the closing of the Lachin Corridor, the violation of the territorial integrity of Armenia, and the continuous non-withdrawal of the troop. The political statements being sounded by the President of Azerbaijan also impede.”

According to Sargis Khandanyan, yesterday during the phone talk with the RA Prime Minister the U.S. Secretary of State also expressed readiness to promote as a mediator the advancement of the peace treaty process. The deputy confirmed: “We don’t draw back from our guidelines and we’ll continue to do our best that it will become reality.”

The RA authorities absolutely do not intervene into the work of the Nagorno Karabakh authorities and inner political life. I think this is normal, and it must be like that. From the beginning we have been led by this logic. Therefore, your question does not correspond to the reality: Artur Hovhannisyan expressed such opinion, answering to the question if the RA authorities impose on the resignation of the State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan. In response to the question on the assessment of the efforts of Russia in unblocking the Lachin Corridor, the Secretary of the Faction expressed hope that all sides will fulfill their obligations. “We hope that the Russian peacekeeping troops and other responsible entities will be able to solve this issue and force the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan to unblock Nagorno Karabakh and open the Lachin Corridor,” he said.

In response to the question which side is desirable as a warrant in case of signing the peace treaty, Sargis Khandanyan underlined: “While speaking about guarantees we should not think that any country will guarantee in any way with its physical or any presence the existence of that treaty. The guarantee can be, for example, the withdrawal of the troops and the disarmament along the border, etc. It is important that the mediator will promote that these agreements be reached, and our expectation is also from the mediators that they will be able to ensure the mutually acceptable approval and the wording in the text of the peace treaty.” It was noted that the process is underway with the logic of the process started by the mediation of the United States, and the part of the guarantees is important for the Armenian side.