President: Karabakh's recognition remains uncompromising goal

PanARMENIAN.Net - The international recognition of the independence of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) remains "our main and uncompromising goal", Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan said on the 30th anniversary of a referendum, in which the Armenians of Artsakh voted for independence.

The referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh on December 10, 1991, with 99.98% of voters casting their ballots in favor of an independent statehood.

"We will continue the struggle for the unconditional recognition of the realization of our people's right to self-determination and the return of the occupied territories," Harutyunyan said in the statement.

"We are in favor of a peaceful settlement of the conflict, where the international recognition of the independence of the Republic of Artsakh on the basis of the right to self-determination is our main and uncompromising goal, which will pave the way for the realization of the ultimate goal of the Artsakh movement."

According to Harutyunyan, the country is still standing, despite Azerbaijan's massive war against it in fall 2020.

"Regardless of the great human, territorial, material and moral-psychological consequences of this aggression, the Republic of Artsakh has been standing, the will and endurance of our people on the chosen path towards independence are unshakable. Among the bright indicators of this very fact are that within this short period of time the population has reached about 120,000 people, a high-level security environment has been ensured, the fully functioning state institutions have been carrying out numerous development projects restoring economic infrastructure," the President said.

The referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh on December 10, 1991, with 99.98% of voters casting their ballots in favor of an independent statehood.