YEREVAN. – I consider this occasion opportune to respond to a number of speculations, misinformation, and questions about the [recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] war. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020.

"I want to start with the statement made by the former chief of the General Staff [of the Armed Forces], Onik Gasparyan, on November 17. On November 17, Onik Gasparyan stated that during the Security Council session on the fourth day of the war, he presented the Armed Forces' assessment of our losses and the current situation, noting that measures should be taken within two or three days to stop the war.

I would like to responsibly and officially state from this tribune that this point of Onik Gasparyan's statement has nothing to do with reality, the chief of the General Staff did not say such a thing, this is officially recorded—including with a recording.

On the contrary, at the September 30 meeting of the Security Council, he said that the adversary had not made any progress, the [Armenian] army, the Armed Forces are fulfilling the task set before them, and will fulfill it to the end," Pashinyan stated, emphasizing that the then chief of the General Staff could not have made such a statement on September 30, as the report at the Security Council meeting on August 21, 2020 assured that the Armenian side could—with the available forces and means—push back the adversary in direction of Artsakh with the principle of "no step back", thwart the adversary's attack, and crush its military units.

The PM noted, however, that all this does not mean that the Armenian leadership did not take measures to establish a ceasefire as soon as possible. "I want to remind that we have had official statements and agreements on a ceasefire three times at the highest level," he said.

Also, Pashinyan read the text of the respective statement adopted during the October 10, 2020 meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow, then added that a ceasefire was not achieved then because Azerbaijan did not observe it amid Turkey's statements that in their opinion, Azerbaijan should not maintain the ceasefire.