“According to Karen Ohanjanyan, the coordinator of Nagorno Karabakh Committee of “Helsinki Initiative-92” – the thing that happened in the days of April undoubtedly proves involvement of the Russian Federation in the military aggression pursued by Azerbaijan”
– Mr. Ohanjanyan, first of all, how statements made by Russian FM Sergey Lavrov have been received in Karabakh, do you see a possibility of political dialogue with Azerbaijan (talked about by Lavrov) after the April war?
– The 4-5-day war has become not only the test of the survival for our nation, but also an indicator of the mood of the people of Karabakh and the whole Armenian nation. In this context, solid progress has been made both in evaluation of the role of Russia, as of a strategic ally of Armenians, and in the cause of impartial settlement of Karabakh issue by international intergovernmental organizations. Nagorno Karabakh always showed an affection for Russia and everything Russian – proceeding from historical reasons. However all that happened in those April days and the years preceding those events, proves, undoubtedly, Russia’s involvement in the military aggression pursued by Azerbaijan. I and the majority of the population of Nagorno Karabakh believe that an international coalition of aggressors, including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Israel and Russia, appeared in the war waged against independent Nagorno Karabakh under the flag of Azerbaijan during these 5 days. By selling deadly weapons to the sides of the conflict they have grossly violated international law and consequently these states are Azerbaijan’s accomplices in the military aggression against sovereign Nagorno Karabakh.
Karen Ohanjanyan, the coordinator of Nagorno Karabakh Committee of “Helsinki Initiative-92”
As for Lavrov’s statement on resumption of political dialogue, I believe, that the leadership of NK and Armenia can have a dialogue with Azerbaijan only in the context of international recognition of Nagorno Karabakh. In this context, the mediocre leadership of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Armenia, headed by Edvard Nalbandyan, should be noted, – who failed not only the whole political process, but also has not been able to organize international support against international aggression – for the struggle pursued by the people of Nagorno Karabakh. The president of the Republic of Armenia, proceeding from the interests of Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia and all Armenians, should immediately dismiss Edvard Nalbandyan and Seyran Ohanyan from the positions held, those who have failed glorious Armenian army, as well as the whole corrupt leadership of the military agency together with them.
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– It has been numerously noted, that Russia has broken the military balance in the region, and that Azerbaijan has become more impudent upon receiving military armament from Russia to the tune of five billion dollars. At present also Azerbaijan violates the arrangement on ceasefire intensely. In your mind, does it turn out that Russia was the instigator, did Azerbaijan unleash the war upon Russia’s consent?
– If we consider the geography of procurement of deadly weapons by Azerbaijan, we would see that it is mainly focused on several main suppliers, the largest of which is Russia. Militarysupplies is one side of the medal. A strage transformation takes place here. The other side is the political one. The USA and other regional states are not stakeholders in the political context of Nagortno Karabakh settlement, except for Turkey, China, and participants in the issue. However, Russia has the most participation, in order not to let the issue be settled. As in the case of settlement of the issue it will stay outside not only the South Caucasus region, but will also get deprived of implementation of various economic projects. This has become obvious when sanctions against Iran were released and international community showed interest towards Iran. The role of Azerbaijan, as of a transit state, is very big. International players need Azerbaijan’s loyalty for implementation of various projects. Moscow also understands this. In order to have Azerbaijan by its side, it was needed to show it their preparedness to consider Azerbaijan as a partner. And the best demonstration of such partnership was giving consent to starting the war.
Russia understood very well the consequences of such an aggression and for that reason it allowed to start the war led by it. The potential scenario envisaged occupation of one or two districts of Karabakh, and then Russia would intervene, stop the war and introduce peacekeeping troops. And all this happens under an agreed scenario. Our people would have found itself under the heel of Russia for a long period of time. Russia did not take one thing into account, that young men aged 18-19, who are ready to protect their homeland even with bare hands would oppose its dirty plan. We should learn great lessons from this unfinished war. We must rely on ourselves only, fight against corruption consuming the Armenian public, build democracy and liberalization of economy. Most important, we should use the talent of our nation and create a technical system, which would counter Azerbaijan and its international supporters. We must build our relations with the rest of the world – decently, based on principles characterizing our ancestors. In this context it is necessary that the National Assembly of Armenia adopts a law that would prohibit Russia to use its armed forces deployed at military bases of Armenia against third states. This is our sovereign right – to protect our motherland.
– It is much spoken that the reaction of international community is not adequate to the existing situation, Azerbaijan as the side which unleashed the war, has not received the deserved criticism. What should be done in order that international community has a stricter stance towards Azerbaijan? In our opinion, which mistakes has the Armenian side made in general and what has not been done in these 20 years, in general?
– First of all, liberalization of economies of our two states should have been started in these 20 years of peace, which would provide an opportunity to arm our army with our own technical means. Total corruption, which ruled in the Armenian army, pushed away all news scientific-technical ideas of true patriots of our nation, which has lead to certain weakening of the most combat-ready army of our region. The chief commander of the Armenian army must bear its share of liability for the existing situation. Put another way, the liability should be the highest for all officials. At present we should view development of Armenia nad Nagorno Karabakh wholistically, taking into account the permanent military threat.
Undoubtedly, Armenian diplomats took part in the diplomatic process in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group in the past 20 years trying to maintain the status quo and did not consider real options of the settlement and international recognition of the NKR. The fact that Armenian diplomats do not manage to have international community pay attention to the military aggression carried out by Azerbaijan, to counter the efforts to equate the aggressor with defenders of the homeland is the proof of failure of the activities of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Armenia.
Armed aggression against civilian population of the NKR took place. According to international law diplomats should mobilize all their resources and to start the process of international recognition of NKR. As according to international law in case of military aggression against civilian population international community is obliged to begin the process of recognition of a self-proclaimed state. At present, non-recognition of the NKR by international intergovernmental structures and other states is violence against international law itself. Under such conditions international community began recognition of Kosovo. Meanwhile international community neglects recognition of the NKR in similar conditions. In this issue, it is the fault of the agency led by Edvard Nalbandyan and his not being competent.
– Mr. Ohanyanyan, after the four-day war more importance is ascribed to the mandatory condition of NK’s return to negotiations and recognition of NK, if of course it would be possible to resume negotiations in the near future. In which direction the Armenian side should work?
– It is already clear at present that any talks should take place with participation of representatives of the NKR. Armenia should refuse from the formats of negotiations in which NKR representatives are absent. No negotiations can take place without participation of NKR representatives, be it in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group, or in the format of the UN, as the Armericans started to discuss. It is clear for us, that the people of Nagorno Karabakh should solve its fate, and not the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Armenia. The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Armenia should promote this ideology, a thing, that at first the office of the first President of Armenia tried to do.
Armenia should support representatives of the NKR with methodic, material and human resources to hold successful negotiations in any format at the same time remaining a stakeholder party. I would like to make it clear to everyone that after all that happened there can be no word about ceding territories. On the contrary, our diplomats have the task of returning of territories lost by the Armenian side. In this context Nagorno Karabakh Republic needs the support of all Armenians. Nagorno Karabakh Republic is the revanche of all Armenians and at the same time the hope of all Armenians.
– What are the mood among the public of Karabakh at present, what works are carried out by the authorities? Great assistance is provided to Artsakh, do the collected amounts serve their target?
– A surprising transformation of public-political relations took place – unprecedented unification of the people and the authorities protected Nagorno Karabakh and inflicted a destructive harm on Azerbaijan. The people participate most actively in state administration. The president, the prime minister, a soldier and a citizen have turned out to be at the same ground. All work in order to strengthen the country at the same time trying to be transparent and accessible.
I would like to express gratitude to all Armenians who continue to provide support to Nagorno Karabakh with financial, material and human resources. Information on the support received is published on the official website of the NKR ministry of finance daily. Moreover, the NKR government has invited the public to control al the expenses. I can say that I am one of the people who carry out that public control and may not but voice my satisfaction with all that.
At the same time, I would like to point out that the war has unveiled many issues, which we should solve jointly. It is obvious – we are invincible when united.
EMMA GABRIELYAN
