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“The current situation in Artsakh is a consequence of provocations planned by Azerbaijan. As for how it should be neutralized, the main power bloc maintaining the ceasefire should draw conclusions, predict, and maybe also keep the Azerbaijani side away from such intentions,” the RA NA deputy of the Civil Contract Faction, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security Andranik Kocharyan noted during the parliamentary briefings on December 12, answering the journalist’s question about the current tense situation in Artsakh, in particular, the blocking of the road in the Shushi region and the issue of setting up a tent by the Azerbaijanis.

The journalist was interested in the processes taking place around the Kashen mine in Artsakh. It should be noted that a few days ago, the Azerbaijanis tried to enter the Kashen mine as “environmentalists”. “Why did they not agree with the authorities of Artsakh, a one-day visit was planned only with the permission of the peacekeepers,” the journalist asked.

Andranik Kocharyan noted in this regard: “I think that the authorities of Azerbaijan are carrying out well-planned provocative actions, thereby creating tension in Artsakh. Naturally, the tension is expected to be transferred to Armenia as well. I think you? should be cold-blooded. Their wishes are their wishes, our goals remain the same: the safe life of our compatriots in Artsakh and building a security environment in the joint security zone of Armenia and Artsakh. In the end, the problem was resolved with the participation of the peacekeeping forces, and the peacekeeping forces have the peacekeeping mission to neutralize such tensions. We should use this period correctly so that our security environment regains its strength and content,”

In response to another journalist’s question about how the Azerbaijanis were able to reach the mine, Andranik Kocharyan said that mutually agreed actions took place here, and that is very true. Andranik Kocharyan did not elaborate on with whom the mutual agreements were concluded. ““Environmentalists” could not take the flags and go to any environment of Artsakh. It means that there was some kind of agreement to exclude such tensions in the future. Azerbaijan should realize that the perspective of the force path, in fact, also creates an opportunity for countermeasures to settle such problems,” he noted. According to the deputy, the Government of Artsakh should always be able to manage risks and is managing them. Azerbaijan always has bigger plans. It must know one thing that with such steps it is forcing Armenia and Artsakh to make their security environment u much higher priority.

Referring to the work done by the Inquiry Committee for Studying the Circumstances of the Hostilities Unleashed on September 27, 2020, Andranik Kocharyan noted that the work carried out by the Committee is strictly confidential. Based on the work done, the Committee Chair talked with the Prosecutor General, materials related to some episodes will be sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office for study.

Andranik Kocharyan answered who they are going to invite to the meeting of the Committee in the near future to ask questions. Among them, he mentioned, in particular, the representatives of the foreign policy bloc - Vardan Oskanyan and Zhirayr Liparityan.

“Tens of thousands of materials were studied, which is enough for the Committee Chair to send written materials to the Prosecutor General’s Office. In the end, the result of the 44-day war is the result of some shortcomings, to put it mildly,” Andranik Kocharyan noted.

“The records of the Inquiry Committee are, in general, a good basis for the changes taking place at the moment, because a number of commissions that have been in the army for years and have led to specific consequences are clearly recorded,” the Secretary of the Civil Contract Faction Artur Hovhannisyan said.

Andranik Kocharyan informed that the opposition does not participate in the work of the Inquiry Committee, adding that they participate in some aspects of the work of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security, but not all.

According to the Committee Chair, the Government came up with the extensive legislative initiatives. They refer to the defense sector, improvement of the security environment, formation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the patrol service. Legislative initiatives will be adopted before the new year.