MP: No int'l observers until Azerbaijan pulls back forces from Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of the parliament's My Step bloc Lilit Makunts has said that the possible deployment of international observers on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border can't be discussed until the Azerbaijani Armed Forces withdraw from the territory of Armenia.

Makunts believes that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group support acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's proposal for the simultaneous withdrawal of troops from the border by both Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Pashinyan suggested on May 27 that the two countries' militaries pull back their forces from the border and pave the way for the deployment of international observers from Russia or the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries.

The proposal is part of what he earlier described as a "peaceful settlement plan" for the resolution of the situation on the border between the two countries, after Azerbaijani troops violated the border in several sections and are still refusing to leave.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, May 31, Makunts also maintained that acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian, who resigned hours after Pashinyan unveiled his proposal, had no objections. Aivazian, however, said in his speech to the employees of the Foreign Ministry that his resignation is meant to leave no room for doubt "that this ministry could have ever taken any step or given consent to ideas, initiatives that were against our statehood, our national and state interests."

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province). One Armenian serviceman was killed in Azerbaijan’s shooting on May 25, while six others were captured on May 27.