David Babayan, adviser and representative-at large of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) president and ex-FM of Artsakh, believes that although the pressure on Artsakh has increased, there is a chance to resist it.

"Recently, we see that the rhetoric and actions have become more heated, even on the border with Armenia, the president of Turkey visited Azerbaijan with a large delegation. All this is also somehow a geopolitical pressure on the international community, on the actors, on us. But regardless how to resist all those pressures, there are opportunities; and here the formula is very simple: continue to be principled and approach the issue in a professional manner. Of course, Turkey and Azerbaijan are trying to show with their actions that the decisive role here is theirs; but it is not so. There are also other forces with which, if we work properly, we can prevent, neutralize these dangerous vectors," Babayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Referring to the statement of Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, that Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan is the first leader of Armenia to clearly recognize Artsakh as a part of Azerbaijan, Babayan noted that the statement by the PM of Armenia must first receive a legal wording.

"For example, Armenia announced that it recognizes the 86,600 square kilometers [of Azerbaijan], which is very bad, very wrong, was badly accepted in Artsakh, and could not have been otherwise. But this should be given legal ‘packaging;’ not only with statements. And then stand up and say: ‘you know, you didn't understand well.’ This should get a ‘packaging,’ signed by the head of Armenia. During the open voting approved by the National Assembly. Who is voting against or in favor of that historic decision? Let the people say their opinion. Maybe the people have changed their DNA?" Babayan said.

Borrell's statement that the EU cannot do more to stabilize the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, to lift the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade of Artsakh than it is doing, and can only urge Azerbaijan to resolve the issue of security and rights of the people of Artsakh, according to Babayan, contradicts the values of democracy and human rights adopted by the EU.

"Borrell, you represent Europe. Where are your issues of democracy? Where are human rights? Or are you saying ‘we asked Azerbaijan to lift the blockade, but it does not lift [it]?’ Then why are you holding an international court? Who needs the international court? Who are you in general? What do you get paid for? What are you doing as Europe, as a pole of democracy? Europe disgraced itself with it because we can no longer talk about democracy, human rights. They are doing everything for Ukraine, but we [i.e. the Armenians of Artsakh] can be killed, eliminated. It doesn't matter because they have some goals. 120 thousand people [in Artsakh] will live, will be slaughtered here. Borrell and others like him don’t care," said David Babayan.