REFUGEES FORM AZERBAIJAN URGE ILHAM ALIYEV TO RECOGNIZE INDEPENDENCE
OF NAGORNY KARABAKH FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE IN REGION

Yerevan, July 13. ArmInfo. A network of a civil society "Refugees
and International Law" presenting the interests of 500,000 Armenian
refugees from Azerbaijani SSR and Nakhijevan appealed to the President
of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for recognition of the independence of
Nagorny Karabakh.

In their appeal, the refugees, in particular, say that in response to
the political issues raised by the Armenian population, the authorities
of the Azerbaijani SSR applied force, organizing pogroms, murders
and deportation of Armenians from Sumgait, Kirovabad, Gazakh, Tovuz,
Baku and other towns having large Armenian population.

However, local Armenians could not defend themselves. Afterwards,
a second stage-expulsion of the autonomous Armenian population from
the villages of Karabakh started. Then, the Azerbaijani authorities
initiated large scale military actions against the Nagorny Karabakh
Republic that declared independence basing on the will of the
population of Nagorny Karabakh Autonomous Region, Shahumyan region
and Getashen sub-region. Then, NKR was in a full blockade due to its
enclave geographical position. The Azerbaijani Republic was defeated.

The borders of NKR and AR were changed as well. The Constitutional
Act on the state independence of Azerbaijani SSR dated 18 October
1991 contains a refusal of Azerbaijan from legal succession of the
Azerbaijan SSR. It not only means that Armenians expelled from the
Azerbaijani SSR cannot rely on the AR authorities in protection of
their rights, but also that AR can claim only part of the territories
of Azerbaijani SSR, created as "union of Armenians and Muslims."

The atmosphere of armenophobia in AR, the memory of the tragic past
makes impossible the return of Armenians refugees to Azerbaijani
SSR and Nakhijevan. Taking into account the given realities,
Armenian refugees recognize NKR as the only legal successor of
Azerbaijani SSR, the refugees say. In their statement dated June 30,
the refugees applied to NKR authorities for relevant conditions for
their resettlement in the territories under the jurisdiction of NKR and
transfer of these territories to them on the private property rights.

It will partially cover their direct material losses. As regards
indirect losses, the refugees connect them with the privatization in
Azerbaijani Republic. They were illegally deprived of participation
in this process. The refugees believe it fair if Azerbaijani
authorities propose acceptable and adequate mechanisms of providing
Armenian refugees with a share from the profits from recovery,
processing, transportation and sale of oil and gas. And about the
most important. Of course, we are for durable peace based on mutual
protection and respect of interests. Recognition of NKR’s independence
by Azerbaijan will be the best guarantee of peace and prosperity in
the region, the refugees say.