NKR MFA: TERRITORIES OF ARTSAKH CANNOT SERVE AS SMALL CHANGES IN GAMBLING OF MEDIATORS

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.05.2007 19:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A conference entitled "Call of Mrav" was held in
the Central Hall of Literati Moscow May 27. The event was organized on
the initiative of refugees from Shahumyan district (the most northern
part of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic) with the assistance of "Mitk"
Armenian Youth Association of the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth,
"Yerkramas" Armenian newspaper of Russia reports. In their reports
participants of the conference touched upon the most actual
historical-political issues concerning the Karabakh problem, first
of all territories of Artsakh occupied by Azerbaijan. The key point
that was actually touched upon in all speeches was the situation
around the Shahumyan district. The most significant conclusion,
which was expressed by rapporteurs on the bases of stated objective
facts, is the following, "The Shahumyan district is an integral part
of Artsakh". Participants of the conference stressed, today in the
process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement conflicting parties do
not touch upon the issue of Shahumyan-Getashen as a result of the fact
that actually the NKR does not participate in the talks. Participants
also underlined the cynical stance of mediators in the settlement
process, who want to reach temporary appearance of the settlement
via one-sided concessions to Azerbaijan aimed at their selfish ends
in political-economic expansion in the region. They are not concerned
over the future of Artsakh people, as well as peace and stability in
the whole region of the South Caucasus. "Both the Shahumyan district
and other native territories of Artsakh cannot serve as small changes
in gambling of various mediators, who behind the mask of settlement
are pursuing selfish ends of realizing their own national interests
far away from the interests of Artsakh people," Adviser to NKR Foreign
Minister Arsen Melik-Shakhnazarov underscored.

Rapporteurs also underlined that official Yerevan’s stance is
excessively compliant, which in particular is expressed in the
indifferent treatment to the future of Shahumyan, Getashen, as well
as territories of North Artsakh, where the native Armenian population
was expelled still during ethnic cleanings of 1988.

This very stance is not only mistakable, but also waning, since it does
not allow to contradict the territories liberated by the NKR Defense
Army to the Nagorno Karabakh territories occupied by Azerbaijan.

A report on Soviet period scrupulously described the aggressive,
colonial and discriminating policy of Azerbaijan towards the Armenian
population, which compactly resided at that moment on the territory
of NKAR. The result of such policy became Armenian population’s
natural aspiration for becoming independent of Azerbaijan. In this
regard participants of the conference underlined that the national
referendum on December 10, 1991 was the will of the Armenian population
of Karabakh, including the Shahumyan district. The referendum was
carried out in the full compliance with then acting legislation of
the USSR and norms of the international law.

Another actual topic during the conference was the information war
between Azerbaijan and NKR that is currently on the way. One of
the reports read as follows, "Today, 13 years after the cease-fire
of the Azeri-Karabakh bloody war, propaganda moans are heard in
Baku about "20 percent of Azeri occupied territories and over one
million refugees," and though those figures are sensu stricto entire
fabrications, they are propaganda tricks and open lies. By this way
Azerbaijani politicians purposeful bring up an entire generation of
pathologically lying citizens, who potentially are not capable to
compromise peaceful solution".

Expert of Strategic Culture Foundation Andrei Areshev scrupulously
described the current situation in the region and the process of the
negotiations around Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

During the conference participants were shown video materials about
events in the Karabakh war displaying the heroic spirit and patriotism
of the Armenian nation during that heavy period.

Deputy Director of the Center of Caucasian Studies (MGIMO-University)
of the Russian MFA Vladimir Zakharov delivered a welcoming speech. He
is a frequent guest in Artsakh and delivers lectures in Artsakh State
University. V. Zakharov told about his impressions during visits to
Artsakh. He also presented his views concerning the Artsakh problem,
saying that the NKR must be an independent state and wishing the
Karabakh people prosperity and belief in future.

A brochure titled "Call of Mrav" was prepared and issued
on the occasion of the event. It tells about the history of
Gulistan and chronology of the events in the Shahumyan district in
1988-92. Organizers of the event are also planning to publish a book
about reports presented during the conference.