Pashinyan declares "Karabakh movement" hindered Armenian statehood, should end

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the "Karabakh movement" (referring to the Armenian separatist movement in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan - ed.) should not continue.

He made this comment during a government session in parliament in response to a question from "Armenia" bloc MP Lilit Galstyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Pashinyan emphasized the importance of honestly addressing a fundamental question: whether Armenian society desires the continuation of the movement. “I won’t be sincere if I don’t express my position directly, especially after what I already said during the discussion of the government reports. At that time, I noted that the 'Karabakh movement' was used to hinder the establishment of Armenian statehood. Therefore, I unequivocally believe that it should not continue,” he said.

Regarding the peace agreement and the withdrawal of lawsuits from international courts, Pashinyan clarified that this provision would only take effect after the signing and ratification of the agreement. Moreover, it would be reciprocal, meaning it would equally affect both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan also discussed the possibility of dissolving the OSCE Minsk Group in the context of moving away from the Karabakh movement. He noted, “In the logic of refusing to continue the 'Karabakh movement', I consider it acceptable to discuss the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group.” However, he added that he was not in a rush to make a final decision on this matter.

On March 13, it was revealed that Armenia and Azerbaijan had completed negotiations on the peace treaty, agreeing on the remaining two unresolved points. The Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Armenia had accepted Azerbaijan’s proposals on the two points, and the peace agreement was now ready for signing. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also confirmed the agreement and expressed Azerbaijan’s readiness to continue dialogue with Armenia on the normalization process.

Additionally, Azerbaijan stressed the need for the formal dissolution of the Minsk Group and its related structures within the OSCE. Later, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that after the signing of the peace treaty, the OSCE Minsk Group’s mediation format would no longer be necessary. He emphasized, “After the signing of the peace treaty, it will be institutionally feasible to conclude that the conflict has come to an end.”

By Tamilla Hasanova