Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
News

Pashinyan's visit to Shushi/Shusha upsets Azerbaijan

11 May 2020

Azerbaijan has slammed the visit of Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan to the Nagorno-Karabakh town of Shushi/Shusha during this year's Victory Day celebration. Pashinyan on Saturday travelled to Stepanakert accompanied by his wife Anna Hakobian, the Chairman of the Armenian Parliament, and other officials, to mark what is known in Armenia as the triple holiday, "the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the formation of the Defense Army of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the liberation of Shushi".

Pashinyan and other officials visited Stepanakert Memorial and the Tank Monument in Shushi, where they laid wreaths and flowers.

Speaking on the occasion the Armenian prime minister said,

"These days we are [also] celebrating the liberation of Shushi and the establishment of the Artsakh Defense Army. Events that were unique to our recent history. The liberation of Shushi signaled the beginning of the liberation of Artsakh. Coinciding with a brilliant victory, it in turn became a guarantee of the security and peace of our people. Today we are determined. The security of the people of the Artsakh Republic and the realization of the right to self-determination are not subject to bargaining. These are absolute values ​​for us."

The visit and speech got a swift reaction from Baku, where the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Leyla Abdullayeva said in a statement:

"Disregarding the demands of the entire international community, in particular, the UN Security Council resolutions, to end the occupation of the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan, N.Pashinyan who delivered a "victory" speech in the occupied Shusha city of Azerbaijan, hopefully, understands that this irresponsible behavior attempting to justify Armenia's groundless territorial claims against Azerbaijan brings the possibility of a peaceful settlement of the conflict to the deadlock.

Such misconduct of the Armenian leadership obviously demonstrates the false position of Armenia, which is not uncommon for an aggressor country, in the conflict settlement negotiations with the solemn goal of consolidating the dangerous status quo.

However, we reiterate that this intention of Armenia will never be realized. Azerbaijan which is unambiguously supported by international law, international justice, and the international community, will liberate its territories and restore territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. There is no other way to resolve the conflict and ensure peace and security in the region."

source: commonspace.eu with agencies

photo: Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan visited Nagorbno-Karabakh on 9 May 2020 (picture courtesy of the press servicve of the prime minister of Armenia)

 

 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged
Trending

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

9 June 2021
Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
NATO Chief says war is on Europe's doorstep, and warns against complacency
Trending

NATO Chief says war is on Europe's doorstep, and warns against complacency

12 December 2025
Russia could attack a Nato country within the next five years, the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, said in a stark new warning. "Nato's own defences can hold for now," Rutte warned in Berlin, but conflict was "next door" to Europe and he feared "too many are quietly complacent, and too many don't feel the urgency, too many believe that time is on our side. "Russia is already escalating its covert campaign against our societies," Rutte said in a speech in Germany. "We must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured." Earlier this month, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said his country was not planning to go to war with Europe, but it was ready "right now" if Europe wanted to - or started a war. But similar reassurances were given by Moscow in 2022, just before 200,000 Russian troops crossed the border and invaded Ukraine. Putin has accused European countries of hindering US efforts to bring peace in Ukraine - a reference to the role Ukraine's European allies have recently played in trying to change a US peace plan to end the war, whose initial draft was seen as favouring Russia. But Putin was not sincere, Nato's secretary-general said in the German capital, Berlin. Supporting Ukraine, he added, was a guarantee for European security. "Just imagine if Putin got his way; Ukraine under the boot of Russian occupation, his forces pressing against a longer border with Nato, and the significantly increased risk of an armed attack against us." Russia's economy has been on a war footing for more than three years now - its factories churn out ever more supplies of drones, missiles and artillery shells. According to a recent report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Russia has been producing each month around 150 tanks, 550 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 Lancet drones and more than 50 artillery pieces. The UK, and most of its Western allies, are simply not anywhere near this point. Analysts say it would take years for Western Europe's factories to come close to matching Russia's mass-production of weapons. "Allied defence spending and production must rise rapidly, our armed forces must have what they need to keep us safe," the Nato chief said.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
NATO Chief says war is on Europe's doorstep, and warns against complacency
Trending

NATO Chief says war is on Europe's doorstep, and warns against complacency

12 December 2025
Russia could attack a Nato country within the next five years, the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, said in a stark new warning. "Nato's own defences can hold for now," Rutte warned in Berlin, but conflict was "next door" to Europe and he feared "too many are quietly complacent, and too many don't feel the urgency, too many believe that time is on our side. "Russia is already escalating its covert campaign against our societies," Rutte said in a speech in Germany. "We must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured." Earlier this month, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said his country was not planning to go to war with Europe, but it was ready "right now" if Europe wanted to - or started a war. But similar reassurances were given by Moscow in 2022, just before 200,000 Russian troops crossed the border and invaded Ukraine. Putin has accused European countries of hindering US efforts to bring peace in Ukraine - a reference to the role Ukraine's European allies have recently played in trying to change a US peace plan to end the war, whose initial draft was seen as favouring Russia. But Putin was not sincere, Nato's secretary-general said in the German capital, Berlin. Supporting Ukraine, he added, was a guarantee for European security. "Just imagine if Putin got his way; Ukraine under the boot of Russian occupation, his forces pressing against a longer border with Nato, and the significantly increased risk of an armed attack against us." Russia's economy has been on a war footing for more than three years now - its factories churn out ever more supplies of drones, missiles and artillery shells. According to a recent report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Russia has been producing each month around 150 tanks, 550 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 Lancet drones and more than 50 artillery pieces. The UK, and most of its Western allies, are simply not anywhere near this point. Analysts say it would take years for Western Europe's factories to come close to matching Russia's mass-production of weapons. "Allied defence spending and production must rise rapidly, our armed forces must have what they need to keep us safe," the Nato chief said.