Border tensions not something new in Tavush, says regional governor

In an interview with Tert.am, the governor of Tavush, Hovik Abovyan, admitted that border tensions provoked by intensive Azerbaijani gun attacks are periodically repeated in the eastern region.

Mr Abovyan, what will you say about the recent shoot-out? Has the population in the border villages always been accustomed to that?

Tensions exist and have always existed; it isn’t the first day.

What solutions do you see?

I do not see any solution at the moment.

So will this situation persist as long as the frozen [Armenian-Azerbaijani] conflict [over Nagorno-Karabakh] continues?

Sure. And the shootings have never gone unanswered. We always take adequate measures to silence them. So they are retaliated against, not we. As for the damages, they [the population in the border regions] is provided with assistance. Together with the deputy prime minister we had a meeting with the people in a kindergarten in Aygepar, Berd region, a couple of days ago, to discuss security measures. So those measures are now under way.

The Russian ambassador to Armenia said that they hadn’t heard any shooting at all. Styopa Safaryan [the Heritage party’s political secretary] later proposed that the Armenian side take [Ambassador Ivan] Volynkin to the border zone so that he could hear [firing].

I don’t know who said what, but if there is anyone who hears nothing, I can accompany [that person to the border] muyself to make him not only hear but also see that.

Mr Abovyan, Andrzej Kasprzyk [the personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office] was recently in the region …

Kasprzyk was at the regional administration for a working meeting. So he was present, and our servicemen briefed him on the situation, elaborating on the gunfires and even their number. We visited the border, and he saw and heard everything himself. So who says that nothing of the kind has ever happened?

And what did Kasprzyk say?

What could he have said? He was to meet with Azerbaijanis, as he always does.

What solutions did he point out to?

Only facts. He was to cross over to the other side [of the border] to do the same there.

And what about the annual volumes of the aid delivered to survivors? Is there any statistics?

We are now estimating the damages; I have issued instructions and will have a meeting in a couple of days to see what problems we have. So we will use all our potentials.

Well, that’s the situation for now, but what about the shoot-outs? They have always continued.

I am sorry to say that, but I haven’t always been [a regional governor]. It is just a month I have been in office.

We know that the National Security Council will address the border regions of Tavish at its upcoming session. Are you going to attend [the meeting]?

I am not a member of the Security Council, but I will be present there if I am invited to.