Pashinyan: Territories “lost” in Karabakh conflict never belonged to Armenia

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that territories Armenia is accused of losing in the Karabakh conflict never belonged to the country, while also describing the so-called Karabakh movement launched in 1988 as a fatal mistake.

Speaking in the village of Kornidzor, Pashinyan said claims that Armenia had lost its own territory were inaccurate, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

“But did victorious Armenia enjoy prosperity, freedom, and free expression of will? Factors related to the Karabakh movement were used to prevent our state from progressing. We are accused of losing territory. But I want to state clearly that we did not lose any territory. In fact, the territories we are accused of losing never belonged to us,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan also criticised the historical trajectory of the so-called Karabakh movement.

“It must be acknowledged that the Karabakh movement was a fatal mistake for us,” he said.

He described Armenia’s recent political course as difficult, but argued that it had enabled the country to draw what he called the “right conclusions.”

By Sabina Mammadli