WE MUST ALSO REMEMBER THAT ENSURING THE ARTSAKH PEOPLE’S RIGHT FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY AND STATE INDEPENDENCE CAN BE THE ONLY CRITERIA FOR NKR

Lragir.am
30-05-2007 10:24:00

As part of a public discussion we initiated about the fate of
liberated territories, we asked a candidate for NKR presidency,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Masis Mayilian to express his
position on this issue.

– Mr. Mayilian, what is your view of the problem of liberated
territories and possible deployment of international peacekeeping
forces in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone?

– First, I would like to thank KarabakhOpen.com internet edition for
initializing public discussions of a wide range of issues that are
urgent for our society. Among these, the problem of territories is
undoubtedly a crucial element for protection and realization of the
Artsakh people’s right for security and state independence.

The official Baku often refers to international recognition of the
Azerbaijani Republic (AR) in "internationally recognized borders",
which are freely interpreted by Azeris in their favor.

I must point out that recognition of a state in international law
does not mean automatic recognition of borders declared by this state
as its own. The world practice shows that the issue of territorial
demarcation between neighboring states can be solved only in case
of mutual recognition of state independence and envisages diplomatic
relations between the sides.

Any intention to solve the issue of territorial demarcation without
linking it to recognition of international legitimacy and state
independence of one of the states is fundamentally without foundation
in law.

In my opinion, the central issue to be discussed is not the
territories, but state borders of the NKR and AR that are to be
discussed. An inter-governmental commission on delimitation and
demarcation of de-facto existing borders between NKR and AR is only
possible in case of Azerbaijan’s recognition of Artsakh’s state
independence. In course of delimitation, we must consider NKR’s
territorial realities, which have been enshrined in our recently
adopted Constitution.

We must also remember that ensuring the Artsakh people’s right for
physical security and state independence can be the only criteria
for NKR. For me it is absolutely obvious that our country will not be
able to develop independently and ensure military and food security
in the fundamentally illegitimate enclave borders of the former NKAO.

Discussing the issues of territories and borders we must keep in
mind that 15% of territory on which the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
was established is still under Azerbaijani occupation.

As to possible deployment of international peacekeeping forces in
the conflict zone, I think any appearance of foreign armed forces
in the NKR, even under the auspices of influential international
organizations, would result in a dramatic restriction of our
sovereignty.

The fact that the international community has still not recognized
NKR’s independence and we are not represented in the mentioned
structures can result in a situation when our country will not be
able to have an internationally guaranteed leverage to influence
those forces.

In these conditions the possible deployment of peacemaking forces
will radically contradict our national interests. We can not restrict
our state sovereignty without achieving a comprehensive international
legal recognition.

Besides, it is widely known that the cease-fire between Azerbaijan
and the NKR is maintained only owing to the established system
of military-political balance of powers, in which the territories
liberated as a result of the Azerbaijan-imposed war play a strategic
function.

I am convinced that any departure from existing realities in haste
and without guarantees fixed in a number of preliminarily ratified
inter-state agreements will result in an immediate collapse of the
aforementioned balance of powers. And, as a result, undoubtedly
provoke resumption of hostilities with consequences catastrophic for
the whole region.

States and organizations which declare their interest in maintaining
peace and stability in the region must maintain the strategic balance,
rationally assess the whole complexity and fragility of the situation,
undertake and insist only on actions that will unequivocally promote
strengthening of the cease-fire regime, systemic maintenance of
the regional stability and establishment of tolerance. In these
circumstances discussion on the need for peacekeeping forces becomes
moot.