Eleven organizations in Artsakh released a statement expressing their concern about the latest interview of the press secretary of Armenian President, Vladimir Hagopian who claimed that “the issue of returning any territories could realize only upon the adjudication of Nagorno-Karabakh status.”
The organizations’ statement highlights that the conflict settlement proposed by Madrid principles are unfair and contradicting national interests of Armenian people.
The statement also read that that no settlement can be accepted without agreement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) people, per the international principle of self-determination, one of three main principles as a basis in the peace process.
Their statement further reminds that Artsakh citizens in 1991 voted for their independence in conformity with all international norms. “The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic borders are defined by the Constitution, adopted in 2006. Karabakh has no territories comprising ‘security zones.’ All territories are within the borders of Artsakh,” the statement reads.
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International efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict were highlighted in the statement, reminding that any decision made without the citizens of Artsakh will not be adopted by its people.
During an interview with Russian news agency Rossiya Segodnya, President of Armenia Serj Sarkisian stated that that in 2011, the sides of the Karabakh conflict seemed to be at the edge of solution and were ready to sign appropriate documents. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan refused to sign it, thereafter setting new preconditions.
“Sarkisian did not highlight all the provisions of the conflict settlement suggested by the OSCE Minsk Group, which were, in essence integral parts of one another,” the press secretary accentuated.
According to Hagopian, Sarkisian stated that the first clause of this document is the self- determination right of the Artsakh people. Referring to Sarkisian’s speech during the RPA 16th conference, Hagopian stated that all the other clauses of the document proceed from this one. “All other issues will be logically and fairly solved within the process of settlement. While this question exists, while the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is undefined, no other problem could be solved,” Hagopian reiterated Sarkisian’s comment.
The President added that the OSCE Minsk Group highlights the necessity of the land corridor between Armenia and Artsakh. “This question has been raised many times both by Armenia and by co-chairs. Moreover, that concerns not to simple road, but to a sustainable and safe connection routes that should be secured from any aggression of Azerbaijan. After the April war, and considering the ongoing and immediate threat to the people of Karabakh, the current status of Artsakh’s [seven] territories is more than justified,” the press secretary stated.