Armenians capable of defending themselves - ex-minister of defense

ArmInfo. The concerns of opposition representatives in Armenia are due to the unilateral  satisfaction of all the demands of Azerbaijan by the current authorities of the country, opposition MP Seyran Ohanyan told a briefing stated on March 21.

He noted that the fulfillment of these requirements occurs even  before the start of the process of delimitation and demarcation of  borders between the two states. The deputy emphasized that carrying  out the delimitation and demarcation of borders without a final  agreement on a peace treaty and maintaining the principle of  reciprocity is fully consistent with the interests of Baku. The  behavior of the Armenian side, as Ohanyan noted, contradicts the  requirements of the country's Constitution and is a crime, a  treacherous attitude towards the interests of its own people. "The  persons involved in this process must bear responsibility, especially  since after the delimitation and demarcation of borders, no one is  confident that units of the Azerbaijani armed forces will leave the  occupied sovereign territories of Armenia. Yesterday, during the  government hour in the National Assembly, the Prime Minister of the  Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan never answered my question about  whether there is confidence that after reaching a compromise in the  border delimitation process, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces will leave  the territory of our country," Ohanyan said. 

He added that countering these treacherous intentions of the  country's authorities should be the task of every individual citizen,  including military personnel, who may not succumb to demands to  withdraw from positions. "The army is a disciplined structure,  ensuring the security of our country, but it has the right to refuse  to carry out illegally given orders," said the former head of the  Ministry of Defense, adding that the main criminal is Azerbaijan,  which continues to exert pressure and provocative actions against  Armenia.  The current authorities of the country, who were supposed  to ensure the development of Artsakh, led to its depopulation, which  means they lost their legitimacy. The only possibility for their  removal from power is a broad consolidation of forces outside the  National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

Ohanyan emphasized that the Armenian people will never come to terms  with this treacherous position of the country's authorities and the  ring that is shrinking around Armenia. <The Armenian people, with all  their potential and military-political capabilities, are able to  organize their defense and security, thereby ensuring national  security guarantees. And for this it is necessary to combine the  entire national potential with its proper use," the ex-minister  noted.

He said that in order to counter the authorities, the opposition will  use all available tools - from the National Assembly to actions  outside parliament.