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Japan Economic Newswire
December 10, 2011 Saturday 9:33 AM GMT
Leader of unrecognized Caucasian republic confident of economy 20 yrs on
STEPANAKERT Dec. 10
The president of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which unilaterally
declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991, voiced confidence in
the local economy and criticized Azerbaijan's "militaristic approach"
over stalled peace talks in a recent interview with Kyodo News.
The republic, though not recognized diplomatically by any nation, is
already functioning as a state with an annual economic growth of 13
percent in 2009 and a military strong enough to defend itself in the
event of a war, Bako Saakyan argued in Friday's interview.
"As to economic development, the state has achieved a substantial
progress," thanks to "a very liberal tax system" giving incentives for
investors, he said, adding, "One of our main sources of assistance is
from Armenian Diaspora."
"Now we have only one issue on our political agenda -- it is
international recognition of the NKR," the leader said.
The republic with a population of about 140,000 and whose capital is
Stepanakert declared independence shortly before the collapse of the
Soviet Union and controls more than 10 percent of what is deemed
Azerbaijan territory.
On the conflict with Azerbaijan with which sporadic gun battles
continue even after a 1994 cease-fire ended the war begun in 1991,
with no peace accord reached, Saakyan put the blame on the former
Soviet republic for the situation.
"Unfortunately every (one of) our steps are canceled by the policy of
Azerbaijan. For example, Nagorno-Karabakh has offered to pull out all
the snipers along the border, but Azerbaijan refuses to do this," he
said.
On Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev's repeated remarks that his
country has the right to regain Nagorno-Karabakh by force, Saakyan
said, "This policy contradicts the very philosophy of the
international community and its approach to the conflict's
settlement."
"We cannot find in history any example when this militaristic approach
brought positive dividends to any country," he said, adding, "We have
a very strong army...so in the case of a new war, we'll be able to
defend ourselves and secure our independence."
Regarding his strategy for gaining international recognition, Saakyan
said, "We direct all our efforts to building a democratic state, a
civil society, it will suit international standards."
December 10, 2011 Saturday 9:33 AM GMT
Leader of unrecognized Caucasian republic confident of economy 20 yrs on
STEPANAKERT Dec. 10
The president of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which unilaterally
declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991, voiced confidence in
the local economy and criticized Azerbaijan's "militaristic approach"
over stalled peace talks in a recent interview with Kyodo News.
The republic, though not recognized diplomatically by any nation, is
already functioning as a state with an annual economic growth of 13
percent in 2009 and a military strong enough to defend itself in the
event of a war, Bako Saakyan argued in Friday's interview.
"As to economic development, the state has achieved a substantial
progress," thanks to "a very liberal tax system" giving incentives for
investors, he said, adding, "One of our main sources of assistance is
from Armenian Diaspora."
"Now we have only one issue on our political agenda -- it is
international recognition of the NKR," the leader said.
The republic with a population of about 140,000 and whose capital is
Stepanakert declared independence shortly before the collapse of the
Soviet Union and controls more than 10 percent of what is deemed
Azerbaijan territory.
On the conflict with Azerbaijan with which sporadic gun battles
continue even after a 1994 cease-fire ended the war begun in 1991,
with no peace accord reached, Saakyan put the blame on the former
Soviet republic for the situation.
"Unfortunately every (one of) our steps are canceled by the policy of
Azerbaijan. For example, Nagorno-Karabakh has offered to pull out all
the snipers along the border, but Azerbaijan refuses to do this," he
said.
On Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev's repeated remarks that his
country has the right to regain Nagorno-Karabakh by force, Saakyan
said, "This policy contradicts the very philosophy of the
international community and its approach to the conflict's
settlement."
"We cannot find in history any example when this militaristic approach
brought positive dividends to any country," he said, adding, "We have
a very strong army...so in the case of a new war, we'll be able to
defend ourselves and secure our independence."
Regarding his strategy for gaining international recognition, Saakyan
said, "We direct all our efforts to building a democratic state, a
civil society, it will suit international standards."