After roadside crackdown, Araik suggested thinking about accepting Baku's terms

Baku/08.03.23/Turan: When discussing in the separatist leadership the causes and consequences of the March 5 fight, the result of which was the death of five people from both sides, de facto leader of the region Araik Harutyunyan admitted, as a way out, acceptance of Baku's demand for integration with Azerbaijan.

Araik Harutyunyan said on March 6: "We have a choice: either to continue the fight that we have chosen, or, if there is such sentiment in the society that we must accept the proposal submitted by Azerbaijan, then people have the opportunity to speak within their civil rights, and say that the way we have chosen is wrong, to formalize these sentiments, to form a new government in the country (Armenian community - ed.)".

Prior to these words, he explained that during the talks with Azerbaijani representatives, Armenian delegates were told that communications would be opened, there would be an uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity and the work of the mine would resume if the separatists agreed to integrate the region with Azerbaijan.

Araik Harutyunyan expressed this as follows: "The Azerbaijani side has told us through its channels that either we accept the integration policy or there will be no solution to the existing problems, on the contrary, there will be harsher and harsher steps.

The recognition of Harutyunyan and the acceptance of Baku's conditions by the new leadership in the region has provoked harsh statements in Karabakh and Armenia. Gurgen Nersisian, the so-called "state minister" of Karabakh, explained Harutyunyan's statement:

"It is more of a political statement in the sense that there is also criticism of the authorities that, say, there should be a softer and more flexible policy. I believe this statement was made in response to such statements and criticism. It is excluded that there can be anyone in Artsakh who can think of integration with Azerbaijan or of living under Azerbaijani sovereignty.

Other members of the separatist team demanded Araik Harutyunyan's resignation, calling him a "traitor".

Yerevan-based political analyst Vladimir Poghosyan, a former employee of the Armenian Ministry of Defence, called for "saving the country", for which purpose everyone should unite, stop negotiations between Khankendi and Baku, and prepare for a third Karabakh war. His salvation programme was to invite the military forces of some European states to Karabakh, not international organisations, drive out Harutyunyan's government and elect a new Karabakh leadership. 

Pashinian's team did not comment on Harutyunyan's statement.

The main obstacle to negotiations on a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and to dialogue between Baku and Karabakh Armenians, is the presence of remnants of Armenian armed forces in Karabakh, and the militarization of the region," says Farhad Mammadov, head of the South Caucasus Research Centre.

"Without the withdrawal of the remnants of the Armenian armed forces from Karabakh, neither the peace treaty process nor Baku's dialogue with Karabakh Armenians will yield results. Both processes are vulnerable, and there are numerous examples over these two years of escalations alternating with intensified diplomatic activity. So establishing a checkpoint and taking full control of the border on the Azerbaijani side becomes a necessity for negotiations and results. Without this there is no point in negotiating with Armenia and dialogue with Karabakh Armenians.

A change in the situation 'on the ground' leads to a breakthrough in negotiations. This is the experience of the last two years and, unfortunately, only losses lead to an increase in constructiveness in Armenia's position," Mammadov wrote in his post.