More than 30 years ago, in accordance with the Law of the USSR “On the Procedures of the Resolution of Problems on the Secession of a Union Republic from the USSR”, a joint session of deputies of all levels of NKAO and the Shahumyan region proclaimed the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), laying the foundation for the establishment of a state, based on democratic values and principles. During the past 34 years the people of Artsakh have built viable state governing bodies, held elections in line with international standards and created democratic institutions․ Artsakh is an established sovereign democratic state.
The military aggression, carried out by Azerbaijan against the Artsakh Republic in 1991-1994, in 2016 and in 2020 with the direct participation of Turkey and foreign armed terrorists, was clearly aimed at the civilian population and infrastructure, at the systematic destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage. As a result, most of the territory of the Republic of Artsakh was occupied, and its population lost their homeland. In Artsakh, Azerbaijan continued its long-adopted genocidal program, regarding which the silence of the world community is bewildering.
Addressing our voice of protest to the international community and the structures, that assumed the mandate for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, we announce that the occupied territories belong to the Artsakh Republic under the international law, and the Armenian historical and cultural values located there are an integral part of the culture of the Armenian people.
In support to the Artsakh National Assembly and the Law “On the Occupied Territories of the Artsakh Republic”, adopted on 18 February, 2022, we stress our readiness to advocate the implementation of its provisions and objectives, using all possible social, legal and political mechanisms for de-occupation of the occupied territories of the Artsakh Republic, and the return of the citizens, deprived of their homeland, to the places of their residence.
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We call on the executive and legislative authorities of the Republic of Armenia, also non-governmental and political organizations, to Armenians all over the world to support the right of the Artsakh people to live freely in their homeland, and to make maximum possible public, legal and political efforts to implement the law “On the Occupied Territories of the Republic of Artsakh” and return civilians, deprived of homeland, to their homes.
We apply to the international community and the Minsk Group Co-Chairs with the appeal to take immediate steps aimed at resuming the negotiation process for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, de-occupying the occupied territories of the Artsakh Republic and returning the citizens, deprived of homeland, to the places if their residence.
