August 2, 2026
Can you declare and guarantee that you will not hand over Tigranashen under any circumstances, under any pretext and under any circumstances during the years of your power? At the opening session of the first session of the 9th convocation of the National Assembly, “Armenia” Bloc MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan asked this question to Ruben Rubinyan, a candidate for the post of NA Speaker.
In response, Rubinyan did not speak clearly.
“I can guarantee that the internationally recognized territory of Armenia is 29,743 square kilometers, and it is a complete and indisputable red line. I can guarantee that the announced plan of the government of Armenia, which has been approved by the people, is that all the territories that are within the internationally recognized borders of Armenia must be under our control, and this issue must be resolved within the framework of demarcation. As for other issues, other issues, according to the regulations of the demarcation commissions, can be solved differently, because the regulations allow for certain optimizations, but even then, it requires a referendum.”
Ishkhan Saghatelyan responded with a clarification. “I didn’t understand what the optimization of territories means, but let’s just record that I am asking a very clear, simple, direct question, and it is no coincidence that I am asking about Tigranashen. Tigranashen is a base of strategic importance for us. Now, is Tigranashen included in the territorial integrity of Armenia you mentioned or not? And I repeat again, Mr. Rubinyan, it is not by chance that I ask. “Can you deny the rumors that you are going to hand over Tigranashen in the name of demarcation, demarcation, enclaves?”
The policeman noticed: “Optimization, theoretically, means when, for example, the parties decide to make some small changes within the framework of a small demarcation, so that the life of border villages, for example, is not disturbed, or the relief is taken into account (note that I am saying this, I am saying this only theoretically, this issue was not discussed between the demarcation commissions) theoretically, such an opportunity can also be in the issue of enclaves.
And what about the internationally recognized territory of RA, I think everyone knows what that territory is, and it is a well-known fact, and it cannot be discussed for us.”
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