WE GO ON THE WAY OF DEVELOPMENT

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
03 March 05

Last year on December 16 at the republic consultation NKR president
Arkady Ghukassian announced that he would visit Artsakh State
University. On February 27 the visit took place. The NKR president was
accompanied by the minister of education, culture and sport A. Ghulian
and other members of the government. Opening the meeting the rector
of the university H. Grigorian thanked the NKR government for
attending to the university. In his turn A. Ghukassian stressed the
importance of getting mutual benefit from similar meetings on the way
of democratization of the country. The main point of meeting with the
people is for the government to clarify their line of activity, feel
the developments in the country and take them into account during
their work. According to the president, the place of the meeting was
not accidental as it is here that the youth is prepared for carrying
on their shoulders the future of Karabakh. According to him, our main
achievement is that we created an international image for our country,
which differs from other unrecognized countries. The president thinks
this is an important circumstance as unrecognized countries are far
more vulnerable than the recognized ones. We managed to lay the
foundations of democracy. The president mentioned that it is early to
say that we have established a democratic state but we have achieved
considerable success. It is the imperative of life to build a
democratic state because only in this way is it possible to adopt the
values accepted in Europe and civilized countries, although there is
no guarantee that this will result in the recognition of NKR. But it
is the only way. It is evident that the world cannot recognize a
totalitarian Nagorni Karabakh. Both the people who are democratic
inherently and those who have nothing to do with democracy must
realize that we have no alternative;we must become a democratic
country and appear to the world as a state which lives in accordance
with international standards. Then the head of state touched upon the
achievements of the country in the sphere of economy. None of the
former members of the USSR is able to develop without the aid of the
international community in the form of loans, subsidies and
investments. We had to solve a very important problem: provide
conditions for investments that would attract both local and foreign
businessmen. A country must have a rich economy and be able to solve
social and economic problems in order to be considered a rich
country. This was much more difficult in the sense that the country
was to overcome the post-war syndrome. A. Ghukassian mentioned that we
have achieved progress in the sphere of investments. Presently
investors from the USA, France, Australia, Switzerland, Italy, Spain,
Russia, Armenia and other countries work in NKR. It was difficult to
come to this because with the present geopolitical developments making
investments in Karabakh is risky. Business based on mere patriotism
cannot be productive. The aim was set to create conditions in which
the investor would be sure that his activity would be protected by
law. According to the NKR president, we managed to prove to foreign
investors that their guarantor is the law and not a person, as it once
used to be the reality in Karabakh. By maintaining 5 per cent
taxation, which is the lowest in the post-Soviet territory, the danger
of tax avoidance was eliminated. Owing tothis budget revenues exceeded
the level when the taxes were higher. A. Ghukassian mentioned that the
present budget of NKR cannot be compared to that of the past five
years and even the previous year. Perhaps this is the reason why
Azerbaijan has become more aggressive. From the point of view of
Azerbaijan Karabakh with decayed economy will one day creep to
Azerbaijan asking for help. However, day by day they become convinced
that the rates of economic growth in Karabakh do not fall back from
Azerbaijan which is far richer in resources. The president mentioned
that we must be able to prove to the world that we have the right for
being an independent and civilized country because we are economically
self-sufficient and are able to live in accordance with the law,
building democracy. These are the standards of the international
community. The NKR president also touched upon the talks for the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Karabakh was left out of the
negotiations though mediators continue visiting Karabakh, because
everybody understands that without regarding the opinion of the people
and authorities of Karabakh it is impossible to achieve the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict. It is Azerbaijan’s fault that the
negotiation process is not going on within the framework of the Minsk
Group, as Azerbaijan refuses to negotiate with Karabakh. And if the
talks are resumed, the president of the country assured that they will
not go on without Karabakh. A. Ghukassian mentioned that we are
interested in the rapid settlement of the problem because innumerable
problems get accumulated in the country which is not recognized. On
the other hand, we understand that the problem cannot be solved at
just any price. We must do everything to prevent another war on this
land. And in this question the international community is on our
side. He denied rumours about returning territories. The people of
Karabakh know the standpoint of the government in reference to the
Karabakh problem. The NKR president stated that it will not change
because they got this mandate from the people. A. Ghukassian ensured
that they will not take steps which may harm the interests of
people. He stated, `We shall not accept unilateral compromise and will
not give up our independence.’ As to the home political life, the head
of the country stressed the importance of pursuing the way of
democracy, which is irrevocable. Opposition and free press is
developing in the country. Fortunately, we do not have the hatred
existing in other countries. In this reference he is hopeful that we
shall not get over the barrier. It is another thing that the
authorities want the opposition to be constructive, and problems to be
solved in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and not hostile
moods. `Home political stability is very important for us,’ said
A. Ghukassian, `and naturally we shall not allow any attempt of
destabilizing the country.’ In the second part of the meeting the head
of the country answered the questions of the professors and students
referring to the foreign and home policies, social and economic state
of the country and the problems of the university.

SVETLANA KHACHATRIAN.
03-03-2005