Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd were not handed over, they were seized in violation of the November 9 agreement – Rubinyan

“Hin Tagher, Khtsaberd, Dizapayt were not handed over. They were illegally seized as a result of an Azeri attack in clear violation of the November 9 trilateral statement,” said Ruben Rubinyan, of the Civil Contract faction and a candidate for deputy speaker of the National Assembly in response to I Have Honor faction’s Tigran Abrahamyan claim that after the signing of the trilateral document on November 9, 2020, territories were handed over to Azerbaijan: the Old Districts, Khtsaberd, and Mount Dizapayt. Abrahamyan inquired whether certain territories would be handed over to Azerbaijan under the name or justification of the threat of war when certain risks are revealed on the Armenian border today.

“As for the areas adjacent to Syunik, the state, internationally recognized border is not just a line, it is a certain guarantee. It is one thing when military clashes take place in the Kovsakan region, it is another thing when our troops stand within the borders of the former Armenian SSR. Such a thing is not possible now for the simple reason that we are standing on the borders of the Republic of Armenia, it implies certain guarantees. “It is not only the border of Armenia, but also the border of the CSTO,” Rubinyan said. Abrahamyan responded, reminding that on May 12, the Azerbaijani troops illegally entered different parts of Syunik and Gegharkunik, according to official information, up to a depth of 3.5 km. “At the moment, those territories are under occupation. And at the moment no proper measures have been taken to regulate it. According to your substantiation, Azerbaijan can enter and occupy different parts of Armenia at any time, you will later justify it by the fact that you did not want to allow it, but Azerbaijan illegally occupied it.”

“No, Azerbaijan cannot enter the territory of Armenia at any time, it was proved by what happened a week ago in Gegharkunik region, when our Armed Forces brilliantly resisted the attack. As for the other parts, like Lake Sev, Gegharkunik, the Azeri troops are there illegally, they have to leave. Our analysis is that with this step Azerbaijan is trying to blow up regional stability or semi-instability, not to fulfill the point of unblocking regional communications envisaged by the November 9 trilateral statement. And we are still trying to resolve the issue through political and diplomatic means. And our international partners, including Russia, share our position on specific border points. We will move forward in this direction,” Rubinyan said.