Situation in conflict region again brought to utter degree of tension
In connection with the recent developments over the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement, the civil society of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in leaders of non-governmental organizations and public experts adopted a statement:
"The recent statements by high-ranking officials of the co-chair countries concerning the settlement of the conflict on the basis of the Madrid principles fundamentally contradict the interests of Artsakh and Armenia and reflect only those countries` own interests that seem to always coincide with the Azerbaijani ones.
We, the representatives of the NKR civil society, view the imposed variant of the conflict settlement as illegal, unfair, immoral and disastrous for the whole South Caucasus region.
The situation in the region has again been brought to an extreme degree of tension. It is fraught with unpredictable consequences. The security of NKR and the Republic of Armenia, and consequently of the region as a whole, is threatened.
The total disregard by the mediators of the existing realities and legitimate rights of the NKR people have more than once caused destabilization of the situation in the region.
We believe that the negotiation process on settling the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict without participation of the NKR representatives has proved its full inconsistence. In connection with this we call on the mediators and participants of the negotiation process to end this political farce and, taking the real situation as a basis for settling the Azerbaijani-Karabakh relations, as well as thoroughly reviewing the existing format and basic principles of the negotiations, to finally engage in true peacemaking instead of unleashing another phase in the conflict.
The people of Artsakh that 20 years ago rose against the discriminatory policies of Soviet Azerbaijan towards the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh, have once and for all determined their fate, having proclaimed the independence of the NKR on the basis of a national referendum with irreproachable observance of all legal norms and formats. By repelling the military aggression of Azerbaijan aimed at the total annihilation of the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh, the people of Karabakh have defended their right to life in their own free state.
The Constitution of NKR is the only immutable Law which the people of Artsakh did and will follow. Any attempts by external forces to violate the NKR Constitution which, inter alia, defines the liberated territories, are doomed to failure. The NKR Defense Army, tens of thousands reservists and Armenian volunteers from all over the world are the main guarantee of the inviolability of national frontiers, the lives, rights and freedoms of the Artsakh people.
We are ready to continue negotiations and work towards establishing peace in the region, but not at the cost of our own security and freedom for which thousands of lives of both soldiers and peaceful citizens, including women, children, and elderly people, have been paid. The memory of them is our dignity.
The platform of peaceful settlement is not a trading stand; Freedom and Dignity are not commodities.
We remind that any agreement on Nagorno Karabakh cannot have legal validity unless the document reflects the will and legitimate rights of the NKR citizens, and unless it bears the signature of the elected President of NKR. Insinuations are useless and ineffectual.
We do not only consider it necessary to give a political and official assessment to the ongoing negotiation process, but we think it`s time to make accountable those that have let the negotiation process to develop by a scenario that has put not only the lives of the people and the Armenian statehood per se under threat, but also the security of the whole region, as well as the interests of Armenians and friends of Armenia and Artsakh all over the world.
We remind henceforth all those officials, structures and other institutions considering themselves having the right to determine the fate of a whole region, of their personal responsibility both in the face of the all Armenians of the world, and for the lives of the people living in the region. Our right is inalienable. Our will is unshakable," the statement said.
"The recent statements by high-ranking officials of the co-chair countries concerning the settlement of the conflict on the basis of the Madrid principles fundamentally contradict the interests of Artsakh and Armenia and reflect only those countries` own interests that seem to always coincide with the Azerbaijani ones.
We, the representatives of the NKR civil society, view the imposed variant of the conflict settlement as illegal, unfair, immoral and disastrous for the whole South Caucasus region.
The situation in the region has again been brought to an extreme degree of tension. It is fraught with unpredictable consequences. The security of NKR and the Republic of Armenia, and consequently of the region as a whole, is threatened.
The total disregard by the mediators of the existing realities and legitimate rights of the NKR people have more than once caused destabilization of the situation in the region.
We believe that the negotiation process on settling the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict without participation of the NKR representatives has proved its full inconsistence. In connection with this we call on the mediators and participants of the negotiation process to end this political farce and, taking the real situation as a basis for settling the Azerbaijani-Karabakh relations, as well as thoroughly reviewing the existing format and basic principles of the negotiations, to finally engage in true peacemaking instead of unleashing another phase in the conflict.
The people of Artsakh that 20 years ago rose against the discriminatory policies of Soviet Azerbaijan towards the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh, have once and for all determined their fate, having proclaimed the independence of the NKR on the basis of a national referendum with irreproachable observance of all legal norms and formats. By repelling the military aggression of Azerbaijan aimed at the total annihilation of the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh, the people of Karabakh have defended their right to life in their own free state.
The Constitution of NKR is the only immutable Law which the people of Artsakh did and will follow. Any attempts by external forces to violate the NKR Constitution which, inter alia, defines the liberated territories, are doomed to failure. The NKR Defense Army, tens of thousands reservists and Armenian volunteers from all over the world are the main guarantee of the inviolability of national frontiers, the lives, rights and freedoms of the Artsakh people.
We are ready to continue negotiations and work towards establishing peace in the region, but not at the cost of our own security and freedom for which thousands of lives of both soldiers and peaceful citizens, including women, children, and elderly people, have been paid. The memory of them is our dignity.
The platform of peaceful settlement is not a trading stand; Freedom and Dignity are not commodities.
We remind that any agreement on Nagorno Karabakh cannot have legal validity unless the document reflects the will and legitimate rights of the NKR citizens, and unless it bears the signature of the elected President of NKR. Insinuations are useless and ineffectual.
We do not only consider it necessary to give a political and official assessment to the ongoing negotiation process, but we think it`s time to make accountable those that have let the negotiation process to develop by a scenario that has put not only the lives of the people and the Armenian statehood per se under threat, but also the security of the whole region, as well as the interests of Armenians and friends of Armenia and Artsakh all over the world.
We remind henceforth all those officials, structures and other institutions considering themselves having the right to determine the fate of a whole region, of their personal responsibility both in the face of the all Armenians of the world, and for the lives of the people living in the region. Our right is inalienable. Our will is unshakable," the statement said.
