OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
122 C Street, NW, Suite 360, Washington, D.C. 20001
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ARTSAKH NEWSLETTER
Vol. 6, no. 2
February – May 2004
The ARTSAKH NEWSLETTER is a publication of the NKR Office in Washington,
D.C., the official representation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the
United States.
In this issue…
1. LIBERATION OF SHUSHI, VICTORY AND NKR ARMY DAY MARKED IN ARTSAKH
2. PRESIDENT GHOUKASIAN’S MAY 9 MESSAGE
3. NAGORNO KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS
4. NK ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW
5. RESTORATION OF SHUSHI IS OF PAN-ARMENIAN IMPORTANCE
6. CHESS TOURNAMENT IN STEPANAKERT
1. LIBERATION OF SHUSHI, VICTORY AND NKR DEFENSE ARMY DAY MARKED IN ARTSAKH
May 9 marks a triple holiday in Nagorno Karabakh – Liberation of Shushi,
establishment of the Defense Army and the victory of the Allies in the
Second World War. Public celebrations and sport competitions took place
throughout Nagorno Karabakh, drawing large crowds of people.
On May 8, an official delegation from Armenia, headed by President Robert
Kocharian, arrived in Stepanakert to take part in the festivities. The
following morning, the Armenian delegation joined President Arkady
Ghoukasian and other senior officials in a wreath laying ceremony at the
monuments of the legendary Artsakh Liberation War hero Ashot “Bekor”
Ghoulian and Marshal of the Soviet Union Hovhannes Baghramian. The group
also visited the Memorial Complex to pay tribute to the soldiers killed
during the Artsakh War and Second World War.
The dignitaries visited Shushi, stopping on the way at the monument to the
first tank that led the way to Shushi’s liberation in 1992, and laid flowers
at the monument to the late Prime Minister of Armenia and Artsakh Hero,
Vazgen Sargsian.
That night, an open-air concert was held in Stepanakert with a special
performance by the units of the Defense Army. Popular singers and
performers from Armenia and Artsakh entertained a crowd of several thousand
people at the central Revival Square in Stepanakert. The concert was
followed by a spectacular fireworks show.
2. NKR PRESIDENT ARKADY GHOUKASIAN’S MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF NAGORNO
KARABAKH REPUBLIC (translated from Armenian)
On May 9, in connection with the holiday, NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian
issued a message to the people of the NKR, which, in particular, reads:
May 9 is a great holiday for our country. This day has always been dear to
our nation. Not very long ago, on May 9 we celebrated the victory of our
common Motherland against fascist Germany in the Great Patriotic War, a war
where every second soldier from Artsakh was killed. However, 12 years ago
May 9 acquired a special meaning for us, becoming distinctly significant for
the Armenians of Artsakh. On this day Shushi was liberated and again became
Armenian, as it should be. Shushi was liberated by the NKR Defense Army,
which surprised the world with its valor and military efficiency. On May 9
the Army also celebrates the day of its creation. Thanks to the successfully
conducted Shushi operation, the “Road of Life” to mother-Armenia was opened,
which saved the Artsakh people from the threat of full physical
annihilation. This is the historical importance of the liberation of Shushi.
It is very symbolic that we celebrate these three holidays on the same day.
This coincidence symbolizes the succession of generations. The glorious
military traditions of our grandfathers and fathers, who worked miracles of
courage and valor during World War II, were duly continued by the new
generation of the people of Artsakh, who obtained and defended the freedom
and independence of Artsakh in the battles against the enemy, which greatly
surpassed them in number and arm. Eternal memory to all those who perished
for the happy future of Artsakh! The duty of the living is not to let the
blood shed by them be in vain. Glory to our war veterans! The government
will continue paying great attention to their needs and problems.
The NKR Defense Army, formed in the furnace of the struggle for
independence, remains the most reliable guarantor of the security of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic and its people. Today, when Azerbaijan tries to
hinder the course of history, cherishing revanchist hopes to solve the
Karabakh problem by force, we have no right to weaken the military
construction; we must equip the army with most modern weapons, and increase
its fighting skills.
At the same time, I restate with full responsibility that the NKR Defense
Army is an army of peace. Its priority was and remains the defense of
Nagorno Karabakh and its population from external aggression. I assure you
that our army is ready to properly repulse the enemy if it dares to violate
our peaceful life and encroach upon our independence.
Dear compatriots, these May holidays coincide with another important date:
10 years ago Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia signed an agreement to
cease-fire in the area of the Karabakh conflict. At that time, Azerbaijan
had to recognize Nagorno Karabakh as a party to the conflict and signed the
armistice only due to the success of our army. And the merit that the
cease-fire regime has held belongs first of all to the strength and power of
the NKR Defense Army, which defends our motherland. That’s why our army is
one of the most efficient guarantees of maintaining the peaceful process of
the settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan. I would like to assure you
that the NKR leadership remains committed to the peaceful settlement,
considering it to be without alternatives in the solution of the Nagorno
Karabakh problem.
My congratulations to you on the Day of our common Victory, dear people of
Artsakh! I wish all of us peace, prosperity and happiness!”
3. NAGORNO KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS
On April 28 Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Robert Kocharian and Ilham
Aliyev met for the second time in recent months in an attempt to revive
negotiations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Both presidents characterized
the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the European Economic Forum
in Warsaw, as ‘very constructive’ and agreed to continue the dialogue. The
French, Russian and US Co-Chairmen of the Organization of Security and
Cooperation of Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group joined the first part of the
meeting, leaving the leaders to negotiate one-on-one for the remainder of
the talks.
The newly appointed U.S. Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann,
who replaced Rudolf Perina, also characterized the meetings as very useful.
On his visit to Armenia in early May, Mann met Armenian and NKR leaders and
voiced the U.S. government’s support for continuing the peace process within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, saying that the peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was in the national interests of the United
States. He also said that he intended to visit Stepanakert during his next
visit to the region.
In related news, on February 23 the Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Nagorno Karabakh Terry Davis visited
Stepanakert for the first time with a fact-finding mission. He met Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukasian, the National Assembly Chairman Oleg
Yesayan and other senior government officials. On March 17 President
Ghoukasian met with an OSCE delegation headed by the organization’s
Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minister Solomon Passy. The
president underlined the necessity of NKR’s participation in the negotiation
process and called on Passy to create conditions for direct talks between
Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. For his part, Passy pointed out the
necessity of restarting negotiations among the involved parties and also
noted that as the current Chairman of OSCE he will make every effort to
achieve it.
4. NAGORNO KARABAKH’S GDP GREW 20% in 2003
At a recent cabinet meeting NKR Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian
announced that the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 20
percent, while the exports amounted to $14 million. He said that the growth
was due to the government’s decision to attract investors with significant
tax incentives, market liberalization and elimination of monopolies. Since
its introduction in 2000, the policy has had a great impact on the level of
foreign investments and on the state of economy as a whole. Businessmen
from Armenia, Australia, Great Britain, Iran, Lebanon, Monaco, Russia,
Switzerland, United States have already invested in NK’ s economy, bringing
in around $40 million. The investments of Karabakh Telecom company
(Lebanon), for example, have already reached $10 million, while the tourism
industry is being developed by Australian, Iranian and American investors.
Foreign investments impact positively on the development of Karabakh’s
industry. As a result, in 2000, industrial growth amounted to 17 %, in 2001
it reached 22 %, in 2002 – 36 %, and in 2003 – 44 %. Danielian mentioned
the Drmbon copper and gold mines as well as Martuni and Karmir Shuka wine
distilleries as examples of successful businesses. Currently, about 18
business proposals, mainly in the energy sector, are awaiting investments.
The Prime Minister hopes that in the near future NKR will be able to export
energy.
According to the National Statistics Service, a similar level of economic
growth was registered in the first quarter of this year. In January-March
2004, the volume of the gross domestic product (GDP) made 6.1 billion drams
($11m, $1 = 550 drams) having grown by 23%.
Nagorno Karabakh’s industrial output reached 3.8 billion drams ($6.9m) in
the same period, having increased by almost 70% as compared with 2003. The
volumes of realized production made 3.2 billion drams ($5.8m), and the
volume of production of consumer goods made 1.4 billion ($2.5m) drams
instead of 1 billion ($1.8m) last year.
The volume of agricultural production made 1.4 billion drams ($2.5m) in the
same period with an 8% increase over 2003. The average salary is 36,170
drams ($66), having increased by 14% compared with the last year’s average.
In January-March 2004, the volume of foreign trade turnover made 14.7
billion drams ($26.8m), having increased by 44% compared to the same period
of last year.
5. NKR PM: RESTORATION OF SHUSHI IS OF PAN-ARMENIAN IMPORTANCE
Given Shushi’s historical and cultural value, the restoration and
repopulation of the town must become a priority for Armenians around the
world. NKR Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian proposed to organize a
Pan-Armenian conference with the aim of turning Shushi into a cultural and
tourist center of the South Caucasus – a status the town enjoyed until early
1900s.
Shushi was significantly damaged during the Karabakh war in 1991-1994.
Taking advantage of its commanding position over Stepanakert, the capital of
Nagorno Karabakh, after expelling its Armenian population, Azeris turned
Shushi into a launching pad for artillery attacks. Karabakh Armenian forces
reclaimed control over Shushi in May 1992.
Prime Minister Danielian says, if given a priority, Shushi can be restored
within 5 years.
6. KARABAKH HOSTS CHESS TOURNAMENT (By Emil Sanamian, AAA)
A first major international sporting event concluded this week in
Stepanakert amid largely unsuccessful efforts by Azerbaijan to undermine it.
The Tigran Petrosian memorial tournament brought together some of the
strongest chess players from Armenia, Latvia, Georgia, Iran, Poland, Russia
and Switzerland. Petrosian, an Armenia native, was the world champion for
much of the 1960s, before being defeated by Boris Spassky. Spassky, now a
French national and retired from the game, was the guest of honor at the
Stepanakert tournament.
Chairman of the International Chess Federation, FIDE, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
sent a letter welcoming the competition as contributing to the ‘unique
Armenian chess culture.’ One of the world’s strongest chess players, Garry
Kasparov, welcomed the selection of Stepanakert as the site for the
tournament as another confirmation that Karabakh has overcome the difficult
post-war legacy. Kasparov, whose mother is an ethnic Armenian, was forced to
flee anti-Armenian violence in his native Baku in 1990.
The Azerbaijani government put pressure on chess federations of
participating nationals to recall their players and judges, claiming that
their participation was ‘illegal.’ Two players, a Georgian and Iranian were
forced to withdraw towards the end of the tournament, which Spassky
described as a ‘real chess celebration.’
In the end, Armenia’s Karen Asriyan narrowly won the hard-fought series with
six out of nine possible points. Bartlomiej Macieja of Poland was a close
second with 5.5 points and Gabriel Sargsian of Armenia was third with 5
points.
* * *
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in
Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the public
representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic.
This material is distributed by the office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
in the USA on behalf of the government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
The office is registered with the U.S. government under the Foreign Agent
Registration Act. Additional information is available at the Department of
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