Pashinyan on Aliyev’s “rename Sevan ‘Goycha’” statement

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has addressed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent statement suggesting that Lake Sevan should be called “Goycha.” Pashinyan noted that Aliyev argued that, according to Tsarist-era maps, Lake Sevan does not exist.

According to Pashinyan, it is necessary to decide on a starting point for historical reference. “We can consider Aug. 8, 2025, as a potential starting point,” he said.

“From what date does the historical homeland begin, for example, the 70s BC, can be the starting point of that historical homeland. First, let’s clarify this issue. There are forces that say the most legitimate starting point is the period from March to November 1920, and they will substantiate it. Some say 500 years ago. If we go by the logic of the historical starting point, Mongolia can tell us, come, I have something to tell you, Iran can say, what are you discussing,” Pashinyan said, also recalling the Arab countries, the Byzantine Empire, and the Roman Empire.

“Whose historical truth are we following—the Arab countries, the Byzantine Empire, the Greeks recalling Alexander the Great, or Rome—our Italian partners? Where would that take us? We have studied this history, and in my view, we have already created a new history, and we must continue building it. Historical social psychology is not like a ‘switch’ that you can just turn on or off—you must distinguish the past from the future,” Pashinyan added.

He emphasized that the future began in 2024, and that Armenians are now living in that future. Speaking specifically about the “Goycha” issue, Pashinyan said, “In Azerbaijan, they see the Nagorno-Karabakh flags displayed in the National Assembly and say, ‘Well, if that’s the case, we’ll call it Goycha.’”

He continued: “Here we say, if they call it Goycha, then let’s call it Gandzak, let’s call it Kovsakan, let’s call it Kashatagh. They say, ‘See, they called it Jrakan, so let’s claim Yerevan is an old Azerbaijani city.’”