PACE adopts declaration confirming Karabakh has never been part of Azerbaijani Republic

January 27, 2011 - 21:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a written declaration on NKR (Republic of Artsakh) that was submitted by member of Heritage parliamentary group of Armenia Zaruhi Postanjyan.

The document was signed by 30 members of PACE, including the Armenian delegation, the press service of Heritage party reported.

The declaration reads: “Azerbaijan declared itself the successor of the Azerbaijani Republic that existed from 1918-1920. But Mountainous Karabakh (Artsakh) was never a part of that state, and it was because of the Kemalist-Bolshevik “deal” that Artsakh had become a part of Soviet Azerbaijan.

In 1991, the people of Karabakh voted “yes” to independence through a referendum that was observed and recognized by numerous international observers. But refusing to accept the Artsakh Armenians’ lawful exercise of their right to self-determination, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack, which ended with the 1994 ceasefire.

Even though Azerbaijan still violates this ceasefire, Karabakh Armenians continue to peacefully build their democratic state and are guided by international norms and standards, one of the most important of which was the 2006 constitutional referendum. Many international observers, experts and journalists certified this referendum and several subsequent presidential, parliamentary, and local elections as democratic, free and fair. Dozens of political parties, media and NGOs function in Artsakh, and its market economy and national legislation meet international standards.

With its objective of building a democratic state, the Mountainous Karabakh Republic is an established state, and deserves international recognition and membership in all international organizations.”