Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Archive photoYEREVAN, May 23.The Armenian opposition, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, issued a statement following the Sunday meeting in Brussels between Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and European Council President Charles Michel, which says that the policy of the head of government threatens the existence of Armenia and leads to the exodus of Armenians from Karabakh On Monday, the press service of the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers reported that following the meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Head of the European Council Charles Michel, held in Brussels on May 22, «an agreement was reached on the further process of work aimed at opening regional communications, starting the work of the Commission on the Delimitation and Security of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Border.» «The results of the meeting in Brussels between Pashinyan and Aliyev, mediated by the President of the European Council Charles Michel, once again confirmed the assertions that the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations are entirely on the Azerbaijani side. …. The policy pursued by Pashinyan is contrary to the interests of Armenia and Artsakh (the self-name of Karabakh — ed.), threatens the existence of our state and will lead to the Turkishization of Armenia, contributing to the outflow of Armenians from Artsakh, «the opposition, united in the Resistance Movement, said in a statement. . The statement was posted on the Telegram channel of the opposition faction «Armenia». In particular, the opposition believes that the final statement of Charles Michel does not mention the right of the people of Karabakh to self-determination, enshrined in a legally binding agreement between Armenia and the EU, does not mention the mandate of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group OSCE.
Motor rallies have resumed in Yerevan demanding Pashinyan's resignation»There is no question of the need to determine the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, which contradicts the statement made on behalf of the European Union on November 19, 2020. The parties even avoid the terms «Nagorno-Karabakh» or «the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.» Instead, the phrase «ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh» is used and refers to the provision of security and rights of the Armenians of Karabakh by Azerbaijan,» the opposition statement says. The opposition believes that this means that the Armenians of Karabakh, according to the agreements between Pashinyan and Aliyev, are considered a national minority within Azerbaijan «Even the term «transit through various regions of Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan» is used, which entails extremely dangerous consequences, including the possibility of another illegal encroachment by Azerbaijan on the sovereignty and territories of Armenia,» the statement added. The opposition claims that «Pashinyan illegitimate, he Oh, there is no mandate from the citizens of Armenia and the Armenian people for new concessions.Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue negotiations on peace, the head of the European Council said «The agreements reached with him do not express the opinion of the Armenian people and are invalid. Artsakh cannot be part of Azerbaijan in any status, the territories of Armenia should not be donated to Azerbaijan. Settlement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan should not take place through the use of force or the threat of force,» the statement says. At the end of September 2020, hostilities resumed in Nagorno-Karabakh, which became a continuation of a long-term conflict and led to civilian casualties. The parties made several attempts to conclude a truce, but the tripartite agreement reached on the night of November 10 was successful. With the mediation of Moscow, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to a complete ceasefire and exchange of prisoners and bodies of the dead. Yerevan also handed over to Baku the Kelbajar and Lachin regions, as well as part of the Aghdam region, which since 1994 have been under the control of the unrecognized NKR. In addition, Russian peacekeepers have been stationed in the region. Since April 25, the opposition has been holding protests throughout Armenia demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pashinyan. Their participants are convinced that the policy of the authorities threatens the country with the loss of statehood and threatens the existence of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
