Address OF “SHUSHI” CHARITY FOUNDATION to the Presidents of the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries Emanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin and Joseph Biden
On September 27, 2020, the armies of Azerbaijan and Turkey, reinforced by terrorists from Middle East, in front of the eyes of the entire civilized world attacked the Republic of Artsakh. Although in their previous joint statements the leaders of the Co-Chair countries spoke against the use and threat of force to settle the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan and Turkey occupied 2/3 of the territory of Artsakh by force, including the region of Hadrut, settlements of Martuni, Askeran and Martakert regions, capturing the city of Shushi, a strategically crucial stronghold located far from the front line.
In a matter of three days the occupants also deported the population of the seven regions . Thousands were forced to leave everything behind and hastily depart. The majority of the population of the aforementioned territories are refugees from Azerbaijan that found shelter in Artsakh. In 1988-1992, the Armenians were forcibly driven out of their homes in Sumgayit, Baku, Gyanja (Kirovabat), Shahumyan region of the Republic of Artsakh (including the sub-region of Getashen,) as well as from Armenian settlements Dashkesan, Shamkhur, and Getabek of the Northern Artsakh. On April 10, 1992, the Azerbaijani army committed genocidal actions killing 100 civilians at the scene and capturing and torturing another 100 Armenians to death. Survivors of the genocide founded new settlements on the border of Martakert and Aghdam regions only to be deported for the second time in 2020. Thousands of Armenian deportees of Artsakh lack shelter to this day and are left nothing but to migrate from one village to another.
Dear Messrs. Presidents, the international community absolutely unjustly has not recognized the Republic of Artsakh. I want to inform you that for over 3000 years, whenever Armenia had due to various political situations lost its statehood, its twelfth region, Artsakh, using its internal resources, has acquired one or the other status for ten times, thus preserving its identity, language, culture and territorial integrity in the interfluve of Araks and Kura. In order to make my words more convincing, I attach my book titled “Ten pillars of Karabakh Problem” elaborating on the said topic based on reliable historical sources.
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Hundreds of memorials of Armenian cultural heritage are still in the occupied territories of Artsakh, including the monastery of Dadivank (II c.(?),) monastery if Gtich (IXc.,) Monastery of the Apostle Elijah (IVc.) (???,) the Tsitsernakavanq monastery (IV c.,) churches, ducal palaces historical and architectural buildings, that are undeniable evidence that the Armenians are the native inhabitants of these territories. Undoubtedly, they also represent the cultural heritage of the civilized and christian worlds. Experience shows that they are at the threat of destruction by Azerbaijan, who will thus try to eradicate any traces of the existence of Armenians in these territories.
Messrs. Presidents, today, a whole lot is being spoken about the necessity of establishing peace and friendly relations between peoples. However, peace can only be established after recovering of the territorial integrity of Nagorno Karabakh (???,) i.e. after the withdrawal of troops and terrorist groups from the territories occupied by Azerbaijan, when conditions are created for the safe return of the Armenian refugees to their homes. Furthermore; Nagorno Karabakh has never and can never be a part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. One of the premises is the return of the town of Shushi to the authorities of Artsakh.
Dear Messrs. presidents of the Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk group co-chairmanship, I must thus turn to your sensibility since Turkey and Azerbaijan, as can be seen from the threatening declarations of their leaders, are looking for another opportunity to attack Armenia and Artsakh, pave a road to their historical fatherland, the Mountainous Altai and southern Siberia to recreate the Turkic Empire.
I believe that not only is this not in the interests of Armenia and Artsakh, but also the entire civilized world.
BAKUR KARAPETYAN
JOURNALIST, PUBLISHER PAINTER
CHAIRMAN OF “SHUSHI” CHARITY FOUNDATION
01.04.2021
