We agree to dissolve the Minsk Group co-chairmanship with the following justification that if there is no conflict, what is the meaning of the format that is engaged in servicing the conflict? Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during his press conference Friday.

“But we want to make sure that the dissolution of the [OSCE] Minsk Group co-chairmanship means the same thing for Azerbaijan, too, and not that Azerbaijan’s intention is, ‘Lets’ dissolve the Minsk Group co-chairmanship now and start a new conflict on the basis of forming territorial claims to Armenia’s territories.’

That is, if that means peace, why do we need the OSCE Minsk Group? If it somehow prevents Azerbaijan from creating a conflict, then what is the point of dissolving that group? If this means a ‘green light’ for Azerbaijan to present and deepen territorial claims against Armenia, what is the point of this action?

And is there any basis to think that Azerbaijan might have such an intention? There are such grounds: the very phrase ‘Western Azerbaijan’ is a direct encroachment on the territorial integrity of Armenia. Not only because Azerbaijan, in fact, on official level calls about 60 percent of the sovereign territory of Armenia ‘Western Azerbaijan,’ but also because the concept of the organization with the corresponding name contains wording that means that anyone using this phrase does not recognize the territorial integrity of Armenia by at least 60 percent,” Pashinyan said.

He noted that “Western Azerbaijan” is the western regions of Azerbaijan.

“There cannot be a ‘Western Azerbaijan’ on the territory of Armenia. Any topic under this vocabulary is not debatable for Armenia for a simple reason because Armenia cannot invite anyone to a discussion, say, ‘Let’s discuss our territorial integrity.’ Such a thing cannot happen. If such a thing crosses anyone's mind, it is also a criminal offense.”