NKR MFA: Territories of Artsakh cannot serve as small changes in gambling of mediators

PanARMENIAN.Net - A conference entitled "Call of Mrav" was held in the Central Hall of Literati Moscow May 27. The event was organized on the initiative of refugees from Shahumyan district (the most northern part of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic) with the assistance of "Mitk" Armenian Youth Association of the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth, "Yerkramas" Armenian newspaper of Russia reports. In their reports participants of the conference touched upon the most actual historical-political issues concerning the Karabakh problem, first of all territories of Artsakh occupied by Azerbaijan. The key point that was actually touched upon in all speeches was the situation around the Shahumyan district. The most significant conclusion, which was expressed by rapporteurs on the bases of stated objective facts, is the following, "The Shahumyan district is an integral part of Artsakh". Participants of the conference stressed, today in the process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement conflicting parties do not touch upon the issue of Shahumyan-Getashen as a result of the fact that actually the NKR does not participate in the talks. Participants also underlined the cynical stance of mediators in the settlement process, who want to reach temporary appearance of the settlement via one-sided concessions to Azerbaijan aimed at their selfish ends in political-economic expansion in the region. They are not concerned over the future of Artsakh people, as well as peace and stability in the whole region of the South Caucasus. "Both the Shahumyan district and other native territories of Artsakh cannot serve as small changes in gambling of various mediators, who behind the mask of settlement are pursuing selfish ends of realizing their own national interests far away from the interests of Artsakh people," Adviser to NKR Foreign Minister Arsen Melik-Shakhnazarov underscored.



Rapporteurs also underlined that official Yerevan's stance is excessively compliant, which in particular is expressed in the indifferent treatment to the future of Shahumyan, Getashen, as well as territories of North Artsakh, where the native Armenian population was expelled still during ethnic cleanings of 1988. This very stance is not only mistakable, but also waning, since it does not allow to contradict the territories liberated by the NKR Defense Army to the Nagorno Karabakh territories occupied by Azerbaijan.



A report on Soviet period scrupulously described the aggressive, colonial and discriminating policy of Azerbaijan towards the Armenian population, which compactly resided at that moment on the territory of NKAR. The result of such policy became Armenian population's natural aspiration for becoming independent of Azerbaijan. In this regard participants of the conference underlined that the national referendum on December 10, 1991 was the will of the Armenian population of Karabakh, including the Shahumyan district. The referendum was carried out in the full compliance with then acting legislation of the USSR and norms of the international law.



Another actual topic during the conference was the information war between Azerbaijan and NKR that is currently on the way. One of the reports read as follows, "Today, 13 years after the cease-fire of the Azeri-Karabakh bloody war, propaganda moans are heard in Baku about "20 percent of Azeri occupied territories and over one million refugees," and though those figures are sensu stricto entire fabrications, they are propaganda tricks and open lies. By this way Azerbaijani politicians purposeful bring up an entire generation of pathologically lying citizens, who potentially are not capable to compromise peaceful solution".



Expert of Strategic Culture Foundation Andrei Areshev scrupulously described the current situation in the region and the process of the negotiations around Nagorno Karabakh conflict.



During the conference participants were shown video materials about events in the Karabakh war displaying the heroic spirit and patriotism of the Armenian nation during that heavy period.



Deputy Director of the Center of Caucasian Studies (MGIMO-University) of the Russian MFA Vladimir Zakharov delivered a welcoming speech. He is a frequent guest in Artsakh and delivers lectures in Artsakh State University. V. Zakharov told about his impressions during visits to Artsakh. He also presented his views concerning the Artsakh problem, saying that the NKR must be an independent state and wishing the Karabakh people prosperity and belief in future.



A brochure titled "Call of Mrav" was prepared and issued on the occasion of the event. It tells about the history of Gulistan and chronology of the events in the Shahumyan district in 1988-92. Organizers of the event are also planning to publish a book about reports presented during the conference.