News - Armenia ruing force MP: Ceding Tavush Province territories to Azerbaijan causes problems

The fact that ceding these territories to Azerbaijan causes problems, the prime minister also mentioned about that during the meeting with the residents of Voskepar village. MP Vahe Ghalumyan of the ruling majority faction stated this speaking with reporters Tuesday in the National Assembly of Armenia. "Yes, it causes problems; but we think it should be done. No settlements are handed over [to Azerbaijan] from Tavush [Province]. They are not in Tavush Province. Tavush Province has four enlarged communities, there is no talk about the administrative territories of any enlarged community. They are not in Tavush Province. According to the law on administrative territorial division of Armenia, Tavush Province has four enlarged communities, whose settlements do not include those settlements. Here it’s not about historical territories, but about what territory Armenia was recognized by the UN, with what map, how many square kilometers," said Ghalumyan. To the remark that after that concession, the adjacent Armenian villages will be under the target of Azerbaijan, the ruling force lawmaker responded: "What do you suggest? Shouldn't we concede what is not ours, we have no legal justification? We are trying to make an exchange, but problems are put here that are in the domain of the border delimitation commission, these commissions are working intensively, we are trying to solve the problem through negotiations." Referring to the fact that Azerbaijan has become active in recent days on the border, shots are being fired, Vahe Ghalumyan said: "Various opinions are being voiced, they are connecting it also with the [Armenia-EU-US] meeting to be held on April 5 [in Brussels]. I myself cannot say what the purpose of those shots is. That meeting is another step towards achieving peace." And to the question as to whether there is already a draft of alternative roads so that it will be possible to connect with the Armenian settlements after ceding the aforesaid territories to Azerbaijan, Ghalumyan responded: "The road needs to be changed in several sections, which I think is a solvable issue. At the moment, no road is being built, but I know that work is underway on that matter."