Artsakh youth: NKR has no territories to ‘return’ to any state

PanARMENIAN.Net - The youth of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic held a rally in capital Stepanakert to protest the statement made by the OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair James Warlick at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, where he presented 6 key elements for resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

In response, the young people of Artsakh issued their own 6-point statement, which says:

First, the sides of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict are the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict is possible only with the direct and full-fledged participation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the negotiation process. This is not optional. Otherwise any decision will remain on paper.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic / Republic of Artsakh/ has not mandated anyone to decide on its behalf either on the issue of status or any other.

Second, the borders of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are inviolable. Throughout the millennia –long history of Armenian Artsakh it was the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region that was an interim status, which not only failed to guarantee the security of Artsakh Armenians but lead to the partition of Artsakh and exodus of its Armenian population.

Third, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has no territories to ‘return’ to any state. Moreover, it is a claimant to its territories that are under Azeri control. The Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement cannot be based on selective interpretation of the principles of international law by Azerbaijan or anyone.

Fourth, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was formed through free expression of will of its people in line with all norms and principles of international law. Hence, any attempt to blockade the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a blatant violation of international law.

Fifth, all issues concerning refugees and IDPs should be settled on the basis of reciprocity and only after the recognition of the final status of the NKR.

Sixth and finally, after the indulgence of the brutal crime by an Azerbaijani axe murderer of a sleeping Armenian officer in Budapest, any promise of international guarantees is nothing but a deception. The ceasefire in the zone of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict has been maintained for 20 years exclusively due to the balance of forces. Hence, the only guarantor of the security of the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is the NKR Defense Army.

Besides, protesters in Berdzor (Lachin) met the visiting OSCE Minsk Co-chairs with banners saying “Stop Aggression” and “Respect Democratic Principles”.

“We respect the rights of those who demonstrate peacefully even when we disagree. In #Lachin, I listened,” Warlick tweeted later.