Discussions are currently ongoing. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mnatsakan Safaryan stated this to reporters in the National Assembly of Armenia—and in response to Armenian News-NEWS.am's question about what decision the Armenian authorities have made regarding the villages of Tavush Province.
"As I noted, the discussions are continuing within the commissions' work now. They work based on the grounds we noted, which has been made public. It is about the declaration of Alma Ata and the border existing during the Soviet period. The declaration of Alma Ata is a basis, the maps, as we had noted, are the most recent maps that existed in the Soviet period. We have already made statements related to it," said Safaryan.
When asked why it was decided to start the border delimitation process with Azerbaijan from Tavush Province, the deputy FM said: "Discussions about it are also ongoing. We have to wait for the recap and the final conclusions of those discussions; after that there will be official information."
Regarding the remark that the Azerbaijani side announced that the territories of those four villages in Tavush Province should be immediately vacated before border delimitation, Mnatsakanyan said: "The Armenian side also expressed position that the vital areas of 31 villages are also within the framework of this discussion."
When asked why the process of border delimitation does not start from Jermuk city, Gegharkunik or Syunik Provinces where Armenia's territories are occupied by Azerbaijan, the deputy FM responded: "Since the border delimitation work is entering the practical phase, certain studies are being carried out, and we will make this work public at the end of these discussions."
He emphasized that Armenia has repeatedly made statements regarding the occupation of its sovereign territory by Azerbaijan.
"The part of the border delimitation work, regarding which there are certain agreements, has already been made public, official statements have been made. At this phase, I do not have additional information," the Armenian deputy FM said.
