Yerevan’s plan to continue the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan from the northernmost section drew criticism in parliament on Wednesday, as government representatives, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, were vague on their reasoning and plans.
A new agreement to continue the process of delimiting the almost 623-mile border between Armenia and Azerbaijan was announced last week by the foreign ministry.
Opposition lawmakers sounded the alarm during a government question and answer session on Wednesday, saying that the Pashinyan government was preparing to cede more territory to Azerbaijan.
Arthur Khacharyan, a member of the opposition Armenia bloc, suggested that the delimitation process should begin on the southern border, in the Syunik Province.
Pashinyan explained that, eventually, the entire border will be delimited, adding that with the start of delimitation process last year in the Tavush province, the government has opted to continue in the north, in order to avoid “fragmentation” and strengthen the security on the border.
“There is no such section of the state border of the Republic of Armenia that we would say we are not delimiting,” Pashinyan said in response to Khachatryan’s inquiry.
Khachatryan also challenged Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to explain why Yerevan did not insist on starting the delimitation process from the south, namely the Syunik province.
The opposition lawmaker argued that delimiting those border sections would deter Baku from invading Syunik to open a land corridor to Nakhichevan, a scheme being advanced by Baku and Ankara to establish a land corridor through Armenia.
Khachatryan also said that delimiting the border in Syunik would require Azerbaijani forces to withdraw from Armenian territory seized in 2021 and 2022.
In a vague reply, Mirzoyan said that the two sides had agreed to the current plan, presented last week.
“We are interested in the continuation of the delimitation process,” Mirzoyan said. “We regard it as a very important element of the peace process.”
