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NKR FOREIGN MINISTER: HATRED TOWARDS ANYTHING ARMENIAN HAS BECOME A STATE POLICY IN AZERBAIJAN
18:19 22.05.2014
Nagorno-Karabakh
"The foreign policy of the NKR is aimed at strengthening peace,
stability, and security in the region based on universal values of
democracy, human rights, and freedoms. We are convinced that the
current unrecognized status of Artsakh should not create barriers for
its engagement in the international processes," Foreign Minister of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan said in an interview with
the President of Canadian student association (AESPUL) Francois-Pierre
Cartolano.
"The key priorities of the NKR foreign policy are: the international
recognition of the independence of the NKR, a peaceful settlement of
the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, the protection
of the rights and interests of the NKR citizens abroad (as well as
Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan and internally displaced persons),
the attraction of foreign investments to the NKR economy, and the
promotion along with the strengthening of Artsakh-Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation," he said.
The Minister said in 2014 they will continue efforts to reinstate the
positive tendencies towards the recognition of the NKR, as well as
the restoration of a full-fledged negotiation format with immediate
and direct participation of the NKR in all its phases: the absence
of one of the main parties to the conflict at the negotiation table
makes it difficult to achieve any real progress.
"Other priority tasks this year will be to give a new impetus to a
more lively and consistent work in the information field with the aim
of spreading reliable knowledge about the conflict between Azerbaijan
and Nagorno-Karabakh as well as promoting the significant achievements
in the democratic state-building and the current developments in our
Republic," the Foreign Minister noted.
"The main challenge is the absence of international recognition of the
NKR. This in turn hampers the full-fledged activities of our Ministry
and sets certain limitations on the realization of its foreign policy.
In the meantime, these existing challenges give us an additional
impetus for more active and diligent work towards reaching the goals
set before us," he added.
In January 2014, Los Angeles' city council adopted a resolution
recognizing the NKR. "In recent years there has been a tendency
towards the recognition of the NKR on the level of different US and
Australian states along with recognitions by many cities (followed
by town-twinning or establishing friendship relationships with towns
of the NKR)," Karen Mirzoyan said.
The Minister reminded about the resolutions and statements supporting
the Karabakh people's right to self-determination from the legislative
bodies of the American states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine,
and Louisiana as well as the Australian state of New South Wales.
"Furthermore, there's the establishment of efficient ties at the
municipal level between the cities of Montebello, Fresno, Highland,
Los-Angeles, Pico Rivera (of the US), le Pen Mirabo, and Vien (of
France) with towns of the NKR. I am sure, that this process will have
its logical continuation and will gain new impetus. Today Artsakh
proved to the world that it is a well established state and can lead a
responsible and active foreign policy. The path which Artsakh has taken
is being adequately assessed by the international community," he added.
Asked about the possibility of renewed aggression, the Minister said:
"The aggressive stance of Azerbaijan manifested in its non-stop
bellicose rhetoric, continued military buildup, and the constant
threats of a resumption of a new war all pose a serious risk to peace
and security in the region. Hatred towards anything Armenian has become
a state policy in Azerbaijan. So far the Azeri threats remain on the
level of militant rhetoric and provocations on the Line of Contact
(i.e. the current borders inherited from the ceasefire in 1994),
each of which could lead to unpredictable developments. As long as
there are no guarantees to the irreversibility of peace process and
non-resumption of military activities, peace and stability in the
region will always be threatened."
"To date, the only guarantee of security of the NKR and its people
is the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's Defense Army which is alert and
ready to repel any encroachments along the borders. There's also room
here for a role to be played by the international community. A clear
message about the absolute imperative of rejecting violence, honoring
already reached agreements, and arriving to a negotiated outcome has to
be an indispensable part of the collective practical efforts aimed at
supporting the settlement of the conflict," the Foreign Minister said.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/05/22/nkr-foreign-minister-hatred-towards-anything-armenian-has-become-a-state-policy-in-azerbaijan/
18:19 22.05.2014
Nagorno-Karabakh
"The foreign policy of the NKR is aimed at strengthening peace,
stability, and security in the region based on universal values of
democracy, human rights, and freedoms. We are convinced that the
current unrecognized status of Artsakh should not create barriers for
its engagement in the international processes," Foreign Minister of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan said in an interview with
the President of Canadian student association (AESPUL) Francois-Pierre
Cartolano.
"The key priorities of the NKR foreign policy are: the international
recognition of the independence of the NKR, a peaceful settlement of
the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, the protection
of the rights and interests of the NKR citizens abroad (as well as
Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan and internally displaced persons),
the attraction of foreign investments to the NKR economy, and the
promotion along with the strengthening of Artsakh-Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation," he said.
The Minister said in 2014 they will continue efforts to reinstate the
positive tendencies towards the recognition of the NKR, as well as
the restoration of a full-fledged negotiation format with immediate
and direct participation of the NKR in all its phases: the absence
of one of the main parties to the conflict at the negotiation table
makes it difficult to achieve any real progress.
"Other priority tasks this year will be to give a new impetus to a
more lively and consistent work in the information field with the aim
of spreading reliable knowledge about the conflict between Azerbaijan
and Nagorno-Karabakh as well as promoting the significant achievements
in the democratic state-building and the current developments in our
Republic," the Foreign Minister noted.
"The main challenge is the absence of international recognition of the
NKR. This in turn hampers the full-fledged activities of our Ministry
and sets certain limitations on the realization of its foreign policy.
In the meantime, these existing challenges give us an additional
impetus for more active and diligent work towards reaching the goals
set before us," he added.
In January 2014, Los Angeles' city council adopted a resolution
recognizing the NKR. "In recent years there has been a tendency
towards the recognition of the NKR on the level of different US and
Australian states along with recognitions by many cities (followed
by town-twinning or establishing friendship relationships with towns
of the NKR)," Karen Mirzoyan said.
The Minister reminded about the resolutions and statements supporting
the Karabakh people's right to self-determination from the legislative
bodies of the American states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine,
and Louisiana as well as the Australian state of New South Wales.
"Furthermore, there's the establishment of efficient ties at the
municipal level between the cities of Montebello, Fresno, Highland,
Los-Angeles, Pico Rivera (of the US), le Pen Mirabo, and Vien (of
France) with towns of the NKR. I am sure, that this process will have
its logical continuation and will gain new impetus. Today Artsakh
proved to the world that it is a well established state and can lead a
responsible and active foreign policy. The path which Artsakh has taken
is being adequately assessed by the international community," he added.
Asked about the possibility of renewed aggression, the Minister said:
"The aggressive stance of Azerbaijan manifested in its non-stop
bellicose rhetoric, continued military buildup, and the constant
threats of a resumption of a new war all pose a serious risk to peace
and security in the region. Hatred towards anything Armenian has become
a state policy in Azerbaijan. So far the Azeri threats remain on the
level of militant rhetoric and provocations on the Line of Contact
(i.e. the current borders inherited from the ceasefire in 1994),
each of which could lead to unpredictable developments. As long as
there are no guarantees to the irreversibility of peace process and
non-resumption of military activities, peace and stability in the
region will always be threatened."
"To date, the only guarantee of security of the NKR and its people
is the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's Defense Army which is alert and
ready to repel any encroachments along the borders. There's also room
here for a role to be played by the international community. A clear
message about the absolute imperative of rejecting violence, honoring
already reached agreements, and arriving to a negotiated outcome has to
be an indispensable part of the collective practical efforts aimed at
supporting the settlement of the conflict," the Foreign Minister said.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/05/22/nkr-foreign-minister-hatred-towards-anything-armenian-has-become-a-state-policy-in-azerbaijan/