According to Karabakh public figures, the California Senate’s decision may promote the recognition of NKR by other American states. What impact may the resolution passed by Californian Senate have on the international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh and on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process? The discussion of this question is underway since last week.
“Aravot” asked the former NKR deputy foreign minister, also Chairman of Public Council for NKR Foreign Policy and Security, Masis Mayilyan, whether on the threshold of the 23th anniversary of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, the resolution passed by the California Senate regarding recognition of the independence of Karabakh can be considered a signal aimed at Azerbaijani authorities, towards whom the sentiments is becoming more and more rigid associated with serious processes against the democracy in this country. “California Senate’s decision tends to assess in the overall progress as a recognition of Karabakh and approval of the right of Artsakh people to self-determination by the legislative bodies of the United States. As you know, California is already the fifth state that passes the resolution about Artsakh. It is noteworthy that California is one of the most influential entities in the United States of America, and has the most developed economy. From this perspective, the California Senate’s decision may promote the recognition of NKR by other states of America. In addition, given decision opens up great opportunities direct comprehensive cooperation between Artsakh and the State of California,” mentioned Masis Mayilyan.
As for the influence of the resolution on recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence by the California Senate on settlement of Artsakh conflict, the former NKR deputy foreign minister said that still in 2007, they had offered to put the «second track» for the Karabakh settlement into operation. “In other words, to conduct an active and targeted work on international recognition of NKR parallel to the process of the OSCE Minsk Group talks. And on April of 2010, the Public Council for NKR Foreign Policy and Security applied to Diaspora Armenian traditional parties and lobbying organizations urging to come up with a process aimed at international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. I think that the progress in this direction will facilitate the peaceful settlement of Azerbaijani-Karabakh interstate conflict,” said Masis Mayilyan.
Karen Ohanjanyan, Coordinator of the Nagorno-Karabakh Committee “Helsinki Initiative-92”, also Chairman of “Social Justice” political party, in the conversation with “Aravot”, assessing the California Senate’s resolution on recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, mentioned, “The assistance to the efforts of Karabakh expressed by the California State Senate towards establishment of a free and independent state, in my opinion, is a more significant event in the modern history of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh after the victory in the war with Azerbaijan, for the ideas of self-declaration, freedom and independence of Karabakh people. There are a number of factors that have predetermined the adoption of such resolution on Karabakh by supreme legislative body of the California state, and it is first of all proportional with the work of the Armenian diaspora and Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, but never with Nagorno-Karabakh and Karabakh authorities who are not associated with the adoption of such resolution in terms of the efforts for recognition of NKR internationally.”
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According to Karen Ohanjanyan, the next factor is associated with Azerbaijan. “Recently, the authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan has started major attacks against the democratic institutions of the country arresting a number of prominent civil society leaders, which cannot cause a major concern to the international community who are supports of ideas of freedom and democracy, and finally, the recent close relations of Azerbaijan with Russia causes an immense strategic and practical harm to the geopolitical interests of the United States, and this risk affects the European consumers for diversification of energy sources and opportunities for Azerbaijan’s communication, which are used by the United States and Europe for their political purposes,” mentioned the Karabakh-originated human rights activist. Karen Ohanjanyan thinks that with recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh by the largest state of America, the U.S. has sent a clear message to Azerbaijan and hinted on the reasons mentioned above.
According to Ohanjanyan, they “indirectly hope that Azerbaijan will understand the reasons for such a move by the USA.” “At the same time, with regard to recognition of the independence of NKR by different states, I’d like to express a hope that like the NKR Foreign political ministry, so as the current NKR leadership, will finally start working within the format of commitments, which is granted to them by our people, and like formerly, will start to become an outpost in negotiation process on principles of Karabakh settlement, and will be able to one day de jure formulate the historic victory of the Armenian nation, internationally. In fact, not to forget to ultimately establish a truly democratic state in Nagorno-Karabakh: on equality, freedom and free economic grounds,” mentioned the Coordinator of the Nagorno-Karabakh Committee “Helsinki Initiative-92”.
Emma GABRIELYAN
