Araik Harutyunyan’s harsh reaction to Samvel Babayan

Former Prime Minister of Artsakh, potential candidate for Artsakh president in 2020 Araik Harutyunyan responded to Samvel Babayan’s statement yesterday, in which the latter not only announced his participation in the presidential elections, but also said that former RA President Serzh Sargsyan negotiated concessions with the Artsakh authorities.

“Samvel Babayan announced yesterday in an interview to Azatutyun radio station that in 2017, the third president of RA, Serzh Sargsyan, negotiated concessions with Artsakh authorities. I would like to inform Mr. Babayan and our public that President Sargsyan has always been open to the negotiation process with Artsakh authorities during his administration, and all issues were discussed in conditions of mutual respect and dialogue.

Next: the mentioned famous meeting or more precisely the meetings did not take place in 2017, but in April and July 2016, where we came to a common declaration, that is, there can be no step back from the current actual status of Artsakh in the negotiation agenda, and the safety of the people of Artsakh must be absolutely guaranteed in the final settlement of the conflict.

P.S. The land-giving authority does not initiate the construction of the Vardenis-Martakert highway, does not implement a repatriation program, does not engage in the policy of proportional territorial development at the expense of investments and state funds, and ultimately does not strengthen the front line and the army.

Therefore, I urge you to refrain from such speculations. Instead, each of us should take concrete steps in the direction of the long-term protection and development of the motherland to the extent of our capabilities,” wrote Harutyunyan.