Samvel Babayan echoes official Baku: "Game is over!"

The former “secretary of the security council” of the separatists, Samvel Babayan, believes that the Armenian authorities will not be able to agree with the Russian peacekeeping contingent on the passage of the so-called “humanitarian convoy” through the Lachin border checkpoint, which Armenia is trying to send to the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan for provocative purposes.

Samvel Babayan said this to Petros Ghazaryan, reporter of the Armenian Public TV, Caliber.Az reports.

“First, this is not a question that depends on Russia. Azerbaijan must allow the import of goods into its territory. Azerbaijan will not allow this, its policy is quite clear. I think it makes no sense, but since they are already on their way, let them come, we do not lose anything. But the Azerbaijani border guards made a statement in which they warned against provocations. There will be no passage,” Babayan said.

He also repeated his thesis that the Karabakh Armenians need to enter into a dialog with Azerbaijan.

“Under such circumstances, one needs to descend from heaven to earth and figure it out. All steps taken should be aimed at ensuring that the opportunity is established to start trading from two directions - Aghdam and Goris. There is a document covering 15-20 questions that will solve all the other problems in one package.

Now there are forces both in Karabakh and in Armenia who are saying: "We must fight."

When they are asked how they will fight, they answer: "Let's hold rallies, let's draw the attention of the world to our difficult situation", etc. I object to them and say that every day in the world 200,000 people die of hunger, and the same number of people are starving, but no one pays attention to them. You can hold rallies, but you will not achieve anything.

“In my youth, I lived with Azerbaijanis for 20-25 years, so I know what I'm talking about. Today's youth does not understand anything and want to experiment. Endure a month or 20 days, and what is then? We will reach the endpoint. I'm talking about it. Why do they turn people into the object of experiments? Why is it not said that when the war is lost, the defeated side accepts the conditions of the winner?

“To minimize losses, efforts should be made to restore the rules of the game as much as possible through diplomacy. Now these people do not understand, they say, let's try, we are fighting. And one of them landed with a parachute (probably referring to the fugitive oligarch Vardanyan - ed.) and says that I know the methods of struggle, I can negotiate in the economic sphere, and there is no one better than me. And I say, then follow him. Let's see where you end up at the end,” Babayan said.

The reporter asked Bababyan how much the change of power in Armenia could hinder the reintegration of Karabakh Armenians into Azerbaijani society.

“I am reiterating, the change of power in Armenia has nothing to do with Karabakh. Azerbaijan also prohibits the use of the terms `Artsakh’ or `Nagorno-Karabakh’, and does not allow interference in its internal affairs, and this creates big problems, this is the first. Second, some say that if we start negotiations, we will do this and that.

“The fact is that the country was plundered for more than 20 years, we lost a long time ago and brought the country to such a state, we lost the war, and now we are in a situation where we have lost everything. Now it remains only to understand ourselves, to find a way to remain an Armenian in this world and region, to live like an Armenian. Here’s the thing. We need to find a way to come up with a whole chain of solutions to issues - not with Azerbaijan dictating its agenda to us, but with our own agenda, and start negotiations.

“We should not think that we have become slaves, servants, that we have lost, that we will have to go to the gallows, etc. We can find a common denominator without intermediaries. Because both sides understand that until a common denominator is found, this situation will be used by influential countries, which will lead to war. I think that both Azerbaijan and we should understand this. As for amateurs, they speak without knowing, without properly assessing the situation, and want to solve political problems, they should not be allowed to speak, they should be deprived of any opportunities,” Babayan said.

The reporter asked Samvel Babayan what is the meaning behind the recent actions of the leaders of the illegal formation in Khankandi, calling for rallies in Yerevan?

“I told you so: the `minister of state’, the `authorities’ of Karabakh, the one who landed with a parachute in Karabakh, they all call on Armenians in Armenia, the USA, Europe, Russia, in short, all over the world to start actions and declare that `120,000 people in Karabakh are starving, under blockade’, etc. It seems to them that the international community exists, and it should put pressure on Azerbaijan to open the way.

“I have been explaining to them for four months, or even more than nine months, that this does not mean anything for Azerbaijan. It won't solve any problem. Türkiye will stand behind Azerbaijan and they will continue to go their own way. We will simply completely dismantle and reboot our society, and then we will take this step (meaning take a step to start negotiations with Azerbaijan - Ed.). Don't let people down, don't hurt people. This is the only path we will take. These people get together with amateurs and play games - to solve their personal problems. I have my own logical point of view, and I am sure that we will eventually find ourselves on the path that I am now following. Whether they like it or not, we will come and start from this point. It just takes time for young people to accept it, the game is over!” Babayan said.

“Let’s build mutual trust first. That's why we have to sit and talk to each other. We cannot do this. They ask us when we sit down and talk? At this moment, someone says that there should be a mediator, and someone says that only in the presence of the international community. Guys, I'm not talking about negotiations. Listen to me carefully: I am saying that mutual trust must be created. Let's understand the mechanism of mutual trust.

“Let's eliminate the problem of the existence of the concept of mutual genocide of each other among these peoples to understand what we are doing. Of course, this is a long road, it will be difficult and you need to take responsibility. Not only Armenia but also Azerbaijan should take some steps. Let's go, sit down, and then we'll talk about a new policy. You understand, we don’t want to greet each other, but talk about a `status’,” Babayan said when answering the reporter’s question about the populist statements of some Armenian figures who assure that they will be able to achieve some kind of “status” for Karabakh.

The journalist also asked Babayan about the real situation in Khankandi.

“There are problems, there are problems with food, domestic problems. But those who have created excellent conditions for themselves over the years feel good. Such people feel good both in Yerevan and here. It is the poor who suffer the most. Let's see how long it will last, time will tell,” Babayan said.

The journalist then asked him what he himself sees as a solution to the problems of the Karabakh Armenians.

“Any intervention on my part will look like I am leading them towards reintegration as if they had alternatives, and I prevented them, I did not let them finish their fight. I also say that I am waiting. After using all the means, when everything is already over, as they say, tell me and I will take everything upon myself and deal with it. This is my destiny,” Babayan said.