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THE STRONGEST PEACE IS ACHIEVED BY NEGOTIATIONS
by Yury Simonyan
WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY
September 5, 2011 Monday
Russia
Unrecognized independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic turns 20
years old
INTERVIEW OF PRESIDENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC BAKO SAAKYAN;
President of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Saakyan speaks about the main
achievements of the republic in 20 years of its independence and
about the main tasks that it faces now.
Question: Name, please, three main achievements of Nagorno-Karabakh
in 20 years of its independence in your opinion.
Bako Saakyan: I would combine the main achievements of our republic in
years of independence into the following three categories. First, this
is establishment of independence statehood and its institutions. All
three branches of power have been established and function
efficiently in the republic. Nagorno-Karabakh has a combat-capable
army that is not only the main guarantor of its independence but
also a stabilizing factor in the region. Our country firmly set
its feet on the path of democratic development and existence of the
independent Nagorno-Karabakh state does not pose a threat for anyone
both in the South Caucasus and in the world. Second, we managed
to overcome consequences of the terrible war imposed by Azerbaijan
that had practically destroyed our economy. At present, Artsakh (the
Armenian name of Nagorno-Karabakh) is a state with a dynamically
developing economy. I would mention the unbreakable triunity of
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora as the next most important achievement.
Question: Which main priority tasks is the republic facing?
Bako Saakyan: I would divide the main tasks faced by our country into
military political and social economic ones. The following issues
are the priorities among the military political tasks. First, this
is maintenance of a strategic balance with Azerbaijan and peaceful
resolving of the Azerbaijani-Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. These tasks
are interconnected and maintenance of peace in the region depends
primarily on efficiency of the strategic balance between Artsakh and
Azerbaijan. Along with this, we are supporters of peaceful resolving
of the conflict through negotiations. International recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is also one of the most important political
matters for us.
As to the social economic tasks, for Nagorno-Karabakh the most pressing
are the issues of increasing of living standards of the population,
measures for improvement of the demographic situation and development
of such sectors of economy as energy sector, mining and processing
industries, agriculture and tourism.
Question: Unlike, for example, Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence
of which has been recognized by a limited quantity of countries,
Nagorno-Karabakh does not have this yet. Are there signs showing that
sovereignty of Nagorno-Karabakh will be recognized by someone in the
near future?
Bako Saakyan: Recognition of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh by the
international community is one of priority tasks faced by our state.
There are actually no legal grounds for non-recognition of our
independence and in this aspect are arguments are immaculate. This is
just another matter that there are geopolitical motives, interests
of various kinds etc that delay our recognition a little. However,
I think that geopolitics and conflict of interest retreat from the
right and morality and the obvious evidence of this is transition of
the process of recognition of the previously unrecognized states into
a qualitatively new phase in the last three or four years. Nonetheless,
for us achievement of recognition of our independence is not determined
by presence of only the relevant precedents alone. We will struggle
for international recognition regardless of whether other unrecognized
states are recognized or not.
Question: When we study nuances of the negotiation process on
Nagorno-Karabakh there is an impression that the matter is driving
to a situation when representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh return to
the table of negotiations soon.
Bako Saakyan: Participation of Nagorno-Karabakh in all stages of the
negotiation process in the role of a fully equal party is the only
opportunity for comprehensive resolving of the conflict. Incidentally,
international intermediaries, for instance, co-chairs of the Minsk OSCE
group, recognize this. Stepanakert is ready for direct negotiations
with Baku and with discussion of any matters. I think that restoration
of the normal format of the negotiation process is only a matter of
time and the sooner this happens the less time will be needed for
the final resolving of the conflict.
by Yury Simonyan
WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY
September 5, 2011 Monday
Russia
Unrecognized independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic turns 20
years old
INTERVIEW OF PRESIDENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC BAKO SAAKYAN;
President of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Saakyan speaks about the main
achievements of the republic in 20 years of its independence and
about the main tasks that it faces now.
Question: Name, please, three main achievements of Nagorno-Karabakh
in 20 years of its independence in your opinion.
Bako Saakyan: I would combine the main achievements of our republic in
years of independence into the following three categories. First, this
is establishment of independence statehood and its institutions. All
three branches of power have been established and function
efficiently in the republic. Nagorno-Karabakh has a combat-capable
army that is not only the main guarantor of its independence but
also a stabilizing factor in the region. Our country firmly set
its feet on the path of democratic development and existence of the
independent Nagorno-Karabakh state does not pose a threat for anyone
both in the South Caucasus and in the world. Second, we managed
to overcome consequences of the terrible war imposed by Azerbaijan
that had practically destroyed our economy. At present, Artsakh (the
Armenian name of Nagorno-Karabakh) is a state with a dynamically
developing economy. I would mention the unbreakable triunity of
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora as the next most important achievement.
Question: Which main priority tasks is the republic facing?
Bako Saakyan: I would divide the main tasks faced by our country into
military political and social economic ones. The following issues
are the priorities among the military political tasks. First, this
is maintenance of a strategic balance with Azerbaijan and peaceful
resolving of the Azerbaijani-Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. These tasks
are interconnected and maintenance of peace in the region depends
primarily on efficiency of the strategic balance between Artsakh and
Azerbaijan. Along with this, we are supporters of peaceful resolving
of the conflict through negotiations. International recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is also one of the most important political
matters for us.
As to the social economic tasks, for Nagorno-Karabakh the most pressing
are the issues of increasing of living standards of the population,
measures for improvement of the demographic situation and development
of such sectors of economy as energy sector, mining and processing
industries, agriculture and tourism.
Question: Unlike, for example, Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence
of which has been recognized by a limited quantity of countries,
Nagorno-Karabakh does not have this yet. Are there signs showing that
sovereignty of Nagorno-Karabakh will be recognized by someone in the
near future?
Bako Saakyan: Recognition of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh by the
international community is one of priority tasks faced by our state.
There are actually no legal grounds for non-recognition of our
independence and in this aspect are arguments are immaculate. This is
just another matter that there are geopolitical motives, interests
of various kinds etc that delay our recognition a little. However,
I think that geopolitics and conflict of interest retreat from the
right and morality and the obvious evidence of this is transition of
the process of recognition of the previously unrecognized states into
a qualitatively new phase in the last three or four years. Nonetheless,
for us achievement of recognition of our independence is not determined
by presence of only the relevant precedents alone. We will struggle
for international recognition regardless of whether other unrecognized
states are recognized or not.
Question: When we study nuances of the negotiation process on
Nagorno-Karabakh there is an impression that the matter is driving
to a situation when representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh return to
the table of negotiations soon.
Bako Saakyan: Participation of Nagorno-Karabakh in all stages of the
negotiation process in the role of a fully equal party is the only
opportunity for comprehensive resolving of the conflict. Incidentally,
international intermediaries, for instance, co-chairs of the Minsk OSCE
group, recognize this. Stepanakert is ready for direct negotiations
with Baku and with discussion of any matters. I think that restoration
of the normal format of the negotiation process is only a matter of
time and the sooner this happens the less time will be needed for
the final resolving of the conflict.