YEREVAN. – I have always been in favor of Artsakh’s unification with Armenia, and all my steps are taken so that the unification happens. Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) former Defense Minister and Defense Army Commander Samvel Babayan on Monday told this to reporters, as he commented on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Artsakh is Armenia.

“But we don’t have to do [it] openly today,  he added. “The legislative arena should be smoothened, integrated so that there will be no difference whether a person lives in [Artsakh’s capital city of] Stepanakert, or in [Armenia’s] Gyumri.

“As for Pashinyan’s statement that ‘Artsakh is Armenia—period,’ I welcome that he is the first leader to make such a statement openly,” Babayan said. “But since a leader is elected in Artsakh, he is obligated to represent Karabakh’s interests at the negotiating table [to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]. But when a provincial governor [of Artsakh] is appointed [instead], [that] will no longer be needed.”