Pashinyan opposes redeployment of Russian peacekeepers to Armenia

Baku/11.10.23/Turan: Armenia is ready to open regional communications for Azerbaijan and Turkey on the basis of sovereignty, equality and reciprocity. This was stated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in an interview with the Public Television of Armenia.

When it comes to the border delimitation and Azerbaijan's demands to return 8 villages, Pashinyan made counter claims. "Azerbaijan raises the issue of 8 villages, we, in turn, say that we also have the problem of 8 villages, because in the same Tavush marz we have territories occupied by Azerbaijan: the villages of Berkaber, Aygeovit, Vazashenum, Paravakar and others.  When we talk about enclaves, we should say that this includes Artsvashen, which is a part of 29,800 km² (of Armenia's territory)," Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan expressed Armenia's readiness for meetings in the 3+3 format, noting that an agreement was reached earlier on the next meeting in this format in Tehran. He said it was necessary to clarify at what level the negotiations in this format should be held.

Touching upon the future fate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh, Pashinyan said that Russia is holding talks with Azerbaijan on the issue.

"If the peacekeepers leave, it is not principled whether they leave through Armenia or through Azerbaijan, but there are no legal grounds for the deployment of the peacekeeping contingent on the territory of Armenia," Pashinyan said.

Answering a question about the future of Russia's 102nd military base, the Prime Minister confirmed that the base will remain. Armenia does not raise the issue of the stay of the 102nd military base of the Russian Federation and Russian border guards, as there are all legal grounds for their presence in Armenia. -06В-