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MEET THE IMPERATIVES AND CHALLENGES OF THE TIME
Georgy Petrossian
Minister of Foreign Affairs
2008-07-23 11:56
Nagorno Karabakh Republic
NKR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS 15
The Declaration of September 2, 1991, on Proclamation of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, and the nation-wide Referendum of December 10,
1991, initiated the establishment of highly important state institutes,
including the organization which was to pursue the country's foreign
policy. Up to 1993, foreign-policy functions were implemented by the
NKR Supreme Council's Commission on Foreign Relations.
In the summer of 1993, when hostilities between Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh were still going on, negotiations between the representatives
of the conflicting parties were held within different formats,
including the CSCE Minsk Group, established in 1992 (OSCE since
1994). Thereupon, an urgent need for a foreign-policy agency emerged,
called to present and defend in full the young republic's interests
on the diplomatic arena.
On July 23, 1993, the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established
by a decree of the Chairman of NKR State Defense Committee.
During the years of its existence the NKR Foreign Ministry has become
one of the most important links in state-building and strengthening
the democratic foundations of the society's development.Achieving
international recognition of its factual independence still remains
the main task of the NKR foreign policy and there are all the necessary
political, historical and legal grounds for this.
The Nagorno Karabakh people have exercised their right to
self-determination. Many presently independent states have emerged
after the break-up of former empires. Nagorno Karabakh has never
been a part of independent Azerbaijan, but was annexed to the
Azerbaijani SSR, a part of the USSR, by an arbitrary decision of
J. Stalin. The proclamation of the NKR independence was carried out in
full compliance with the international law and the USSR legislation,
existing at that time. The initiation of the process of restoring
the independent Karabakh statehood (NKAO per se was also a form of
statehood, only with limited sovereignty) came on September 2, 1991,
at a joint session of the Nagorno Karabakh Regional Council and
the Council of People's Deputies of the Shahoumian district, which
proclaimed the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The Declaration "On State
Independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic" adopted on January 6,
1992, by the newly-elected NKR parliament of the first convocation,
became the finale in the proccess of restoring the Karabakh statehood.
The NKR has proved its right to existence by means of successful
building of its statehood. It has held several presidential and
parliamentary elections, which according to foreign experts and
observers met the democratic standards. We also witnesses the
development20of the civil society. There is no case of a nation to
voluntarily renounce its 20-year independence. There is already a
generation, which considers itself as the embodiment and guarantor
of this statehood. Today, we speak about the irreversibility of the
changes that occurred in the people`s consciousness.
One of the most important priorities of the NKR Foreign Ministry
and one of the basic directions of its activity is also the peaceful
settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi conflict.
On May 5, 1994, the Bishkek Protocol was signed under the aegis of the
CIS inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and already on May 12, a Cease-fire
Agreement was reached through the mediation of the Russian Federation,
undersigned by official representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh.
Simultaneously, negotiations were held within the OSCE Minsk Group
on the level of experts of the Foreign Ministries of Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan. In addition, a number of bilateral meetings
between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, including contacts on the
front line on different levels took place. Only in 1993, official
Baku made 10 agreements on termination of hostilities, cease-fire or
its extension just with the Nagorno Karabakh leadership.
No less a factor for the maintenance of the cease-fire is the fact
that already for more than 14 years the Office of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office regularly conducts
monitorings of Line of Contact (LoC) between the Karabakh and
Azerbaijan armed forces, controlled by the conflicting parties without
peacekeeping forces.
>From May 1997 to November 1998, the co-chairing countries of the OSCE
Minsk Conference - the United States, Russia and France, have thrice
put forward new proposals on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. The first two plans of the OSCE MG were accepted
by both Azerbaijan and Armenia but rejected by Nagorno Karabakh. The
third proposal, which was based on the the concept of "common state"
and provided for the comprehensive settlement of the conflict by
means of resuming negotiations without preconditions and provided an
opportunity to exercise the NKR people's right to self-determination,
was accepted by the NKR and Armenia, but rejected by Azerbaijan.
During the past years, meetings and consultations have been conducted
under the auspices of the OSCE MG Co-chairs between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents and foreign ministers, at which the basic
principles of the NK conflict settlement have been discussed. The
position of the Karabakh party is that the agreements must first
of all solve the issues concerning the reasons of the conflict (the
political status and security of Nagorno Karabakh), and then - issues
related to the consequences of the conflict (controlled territories,
refugees, restoration of communications, etc).
There is20an urgent need for resuming in the nearest future full-format
negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE MG with the obligatory
participation of NKR.
Currently, more and more international organizations interested in the
conflict settlement have come to the conclusion that it is necessary
to search for ways of the conflict resolution in the political and
legal plane.
The Nagorno Karabakh Republic pursues its own foreign policy, enters
into relations with other countries and international organizations,
sends its envoys for participation in international and regional
conferences. The Nagorno Karabakh state has de-facto established itself
and today many officials from other countries, politicians, experts,
international organizations acknowledge this fact. In September
2005, sixty United States congressmen sent a message to President
George Bush, which said: "The Nagorno Karabakh Republic fully meets
the international criteria of statehood. For the 14 years of its
independence Nagorno Karabakh has proved that it can be a reliable
partner for the international community".
The NKR has its Permanent Representations in key countries and regions,
through whcih the connection of our republic with the countries of
the world is provided. In addition to the implementation of political
functions, the Representations facilitate the attraction of investments
in the NKR economy, relations with the Armenian Diaspora, realization
of humanitarian programs in the NKR. The consular services defend
the NKR citizens' interests abroad.
The MFA central staff and the republic's Permanent Representations in
foreign countries continue the efforts of presenting the real image
of Nagorno Karabakh, where democratic values and human rights are
the cornerstones on the way of the NKR`s establishment as a country,
enjoying full rights. In this respect, the work done by the Foreign
Ministry at the parliamentary, presidential and local elections, in
particular, ensuring the presence of international observers deserves
attention. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directly
involved in the process of creating a democratic, legislative field
in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
The years of independence have been marked with the active involvement
of the civil society in the country's life. We are encouraged by
the development of the NGO sector. The reports on Nagorno Karabakh
by different international organizations on human rights, as well as
the reports by international observers are evidence of the positive
results of the activity in this sector.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rendered assistance to more than
10 international organizations accredited in the NKR. Currently,
the NKR MFA cooperates with organizations such as the OSCE, ICRC,
The HALO Trust, etc.
Today we live one of the most responsible and critical periods of
the centuries-old history of our peop le. The Nagorno Karabakh
diplomacy must fully meet the imperatives and challenges of the
time. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be settled by means of
peaceful negotiations on the basis of such principles which would
ensure the inviolability of the Nagorno Karabakh people's right to
self-determination and security. This is our nation's will and the
position of the NKR authorities.
Georgy Petrossian
Minister of Foreign Affairs
2008-07-23 11:56
Nagorno Karabakh Republic
NKR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS 15
The Declaration of September 2, 1991, on Proclamation of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, and the nation-wide Referendum of December 10,
1991, initiated the establishment of highly important state institutes,
including the organization which was to pursue the country's foreign
policy. Up to 1993, foreign-policy functions were implemented by the
NKR Supreme Council's Commission on Foreign Relations.
In the summer of 1993, when hostilities between Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh were still going on, negotiations between the representatives
of the conflicting parties were held within different formats,
including the CSCE Minsk Group, established in 1992 (OSCE since
1994). Thereupon, an urgent need for a foreign-policy agency emerged,
called to present and defend in full the young republic's interests
on the diplomatic arena.
On July 23, 1993, the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established
by a decree of the Chairman of NKR State Defense Committee.
During the years of its existence the NKR Foreign Ministry has become
one of the most important links in state-building and strengthening
the democratic foundations of the society's development.Achieving
international recognition of its factual independence still remains
the main task of the NKR foreign policy and there are all the necessary
political, historical and legal grounds for this.
The Nagorno Karabakh people have exercised their right to
self-determination. Many presently independent states have emerged
after the break-up of former empires. Nagorno Karabakh has never
been a part of independent Azerbaijan, but was annexed to the
Azerbaijani SSR, a part of the USSR, by an arbitrary decision of
J. Stalin. The proclamation of the NKR independence was carried out in
full compliance with the international law and the USSR legislation,
existing at that time. The initiation of the process of restoring
the independent Karabakh statehood (NKAO per se was also a form of
statehood, only with limited sovereignty) came on September 2, 1991,
at a joint session of the Nagorno Karabakh Regional Council and
the Council of People's Deputies of the Shahoumian district, which
proclaimed the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The Declaration "On State
Independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic" adopted on January 6,
1992, by the newly-elected NKR parliament of the first convocation,
became the finale in the proccess of restoring the Karabakh statehood.
The NKR has proved its right to existence by means of successful
building of its statehood. It has held several presidential and
parliamentary elections, which according to foreign experts and
observers met the democratic standards. We also witnesses the
development20of the civil society. There is no case of a nation to
voluntarily renounce its 20-year independence. There is already a
generation, which considers itself as the embodiment and guarantor
of this statehood. Today, we speak about the irreversibility of the
changes that occurred in the people`s consciousness.
One of the most important priorities of the NKR Foreign Ministry
and one of the basic directions of its activity is also the peaceful
settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi conflict.
On May 5, 1994, the Bishkek Protocol was signed under the aegis of the
CIS inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and already on May 12, a Cease-fire
Agreement was reached through the mediation of the Russian Federation,
undersigned by official representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh.
Simultaneously, negotiations were held within the OSCE Minsk Group
on the level of experts of the Foreign Ministries of Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan. In addition, a number of bilateral meetings
between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, including contacts on the
front line on different levels took place. Only in 1993, official
Baku made 10 agreements on termination of hostilities, cease-fire or
its extension just with the Nagorno Karabakh leadership.
No less a factor for the maintenance of the cease-fire is the fact
that already for more than 14 years the Office of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office regularly conducts
monitorings of Line of Contact (LoC) between the Karabakh and
Azerbaijan armed forces, controlled by the conflicting parties without
peacekeeping forces.
>From May 1997 to November 1998, the co-chairing countries of the OSCE
Minsk Conference - the United States, Russia and France, have thrice
put forward new proposals on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. The first two plans of the OSCE MG were accepted
by both Azerbaijan and Armenia but rejected by Nagorno Karabakh. The
third proposal, which was based on the the concept of "common state"
and provided for the comprehensive settlement of the conflict by
means of resuming negotiations without preconditions and provided an
opportunity to exercise the NKR people's right to self-determination,
was accepted by the NKR and Armenia, but rejected by Azerbaijan.
During the past years, meetings and consultations have been conducted
under the auspices of the OSCE MG Co-chairs between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents and foreign ministers, at which the basic
principles of the NK conflict settlement have been discussed. The
position of the Karabakh party is that the agreements must first
of all solve the issues concerning the reasons of the conflict (the
political status and security of Nagorno Karabakh), and then - issues
related to the consequences of the conflict (controlled territories,
refugees, restoration of communications, etc).
There is20an urgent need for resuming in the nearest future full-format
negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE MG with the obligatory
participation of NKR.
Currently, more and more international organizations interested in the
conflict settlement have come to the conclusion that it is necessary
to search for ways of the conflict resolution in the political and
legal plane.
The Nagorno Karabakh Republic pursues its own foreign policy, enters
into relations with other countries and international organizations,
sends its envoys for participation in international and regional
conferences. The Nagorno Karabakh state has de-facto established itself
and today many officials from other countries, politicians, experts,
international organizations acknowledge this fact. In September
2005, sixty United States congressmen sent a message to President
George Bush, which said: "The Nagorno Karabakh Republic fully meets
the international criteria of statehood. For the 14 years of its
independence Nagorno Karabakh has proved that it can be a reliable
partner for the international community".
The NKR has its Permanent Representations in key countries and regions,
through whcih the connection of our republic with the countries of
the world is provided. In addition to the implementation of political
functions, the Representations facilitate the attraction of investments
in the NKR economy, relations with the Armenian Diaspora, realization
of humanitarian programs in the NKR. The consular services defend
the NKR citizens' interests abroad.
The MFA central staff and the republic's Permanent Representations in
foreign countries continue the efforts of presenting the real image
of Nagorno Karabakh, where democratic values and human rights are
the cornerstones on the way of the NKR`s establishment as a country,
enjoying full rights. In this respect, the work done by the Foreign
Ministry at the parliamentary, presidential and local elections, in
particular, ensuring the presence of international observers deserves
attention. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directly
involved in the process of creating a democratic, legislative field
in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
The years of independence have been marked with the active involvement
of the civil society in the country's life. We are encouraged by
the development of the NGO sector. The reports on Nagorno Karabakh
by different international organizations on human rights, as well as
the reports by international observers are evidence of the positive
results of the activity in this sector.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rendered assistance to more than
10 international organizations accredited in the NKR. Currently,
the NKR MFA cooperates with organizations such as the OSCE, ICRC,
The HALO Trust, etc.
Today we live one of the most responsible and critical periods of
the centuries-old history of our peop le. The Nagorno Karabakh
diplomacy must fully meet the imperatives and challenges of the
time. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be settled by means of
peaceful negotiations on the basis of such principles which would
ensure the inviolability of the Nagorno Karabakh people's right to
self-determination and security. This is our nation's will and the
position of the NKR authorities.