NAGORNYY KARABAKH LEADER PRIORITIZES RECOGNITION OF NKR REPUBLIC
Public Television of Armenia
7 Sep 07
Yerevan
The newly-elected president of Nagornyy Karabakh, Bako Sahakyan,
has outlined the main goals of his presidency in the next five
years. Speaking at his inauguration ceremony in the Nagornyy Karabakh
capital of Stepanakert, broadcast live by Armenian Public TV,
Sahakyan said that his main goal is to build a viable, socially
just, economically developed, and politically stable state and
achieve the international recognition of Nagornyy Karabakh. We have
a clear-cut programme to solve the republic’s problems and ensure
its full participation in the negotiating process with Azerbaijan,
he said. The following is an excerpt from report by Armenian Public
TV on 7 September. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:
By taking over the post of president of the Nagornyy Karabakh
republic, I take the oath of loyalty to the constitution. I
will protect citizens’ and people’s rights, ensure the republic’s
self-determination, independence, territorial integrity and security
in the name of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic and our nation.
[Passage omitted: Religious ceremony]
Honourable President of the Republic of Armenia, honourable Mr. Arkadi
Ghukasyan, Your Grace Holy Father, dear chairman of the national
assembly, dear deputies and guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Independent statehood
Assuming the high and responsible post of the president of the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic, I would like to thank our people first
for their active participation in the 19 July presidential elections
and my constituency for their confidence. I appreciate the position of
those citizens who voted for other presidential candidates too. This
means that they are concerned about development and progress in our
country. These will be definitely taken into consideration.
The past elections once again proved the unified will of
the Artsakh people to live in a free and sovereign historical
motherland. Simultaneously, they demonstrated the decisive role of
the country’s public and political circles in forming the state’s
supreme authority. In the coming five years we will continue to build
a free and prosperous country ensuring cooperation between all strata
of our society in order to achieve this purpose.
Taking the opportunity I would like to thank all governmental
and non-governmental structures of foreign states, international
organizations and mass media that observed the 19 July elections and
covered this important event for our state. The assessments of the
observers will substantially contribute to increase the rating of
our country. We also highly assessed their remarks and suggestions,
which will be taken into consideration in the further democratization
of our country.
These assessments prove that the foundation of our independent
statehood is quite firm. In this context, I would like to express my
respect and gratitude to the first president of the Nagornyy Karabakh
republic, the president of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan,
for his services and contribution to the NKR’s declaration as an
independent state, for the effective organization of the republic’s
defence against aggression, for the development of state institutions,
economic recovery in the first post-war years, as well as for his
input in the just settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
Achievements in the recent period gave me grounds to thank the second
president of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic, Arkadi Ghukasyan, on
behalf of the people. During his leadership in the last 10 years, our
country registered considerable progress in carrying out socioeconomic
reforms, democratization of public and political life, and finally
adopted its main law – the Constitution of the NKR. We are confident
that Mr. Ghukasyan will continue to use his rich experience as a state,
political and national figure for the interests of the motherland.
During the campaign I got another chance to visit almost all
settlements of the republic and become acquainted with problems and
concerns of our people.
It was very important for me to see and hear about all these issues. In
the coming five years we will definitely take into account suggestions
and advice given during these meetings.
Main goals
The main goal of my presidency will be to have a viable, socially just,
economically developed, and politically stable state. The strength
of the state to a great extent derives from our policy towards the
needs of youth and socially vulnerable strata. The authorities have
much to do in this field.
Being guided by the constitution we will continue to build a state,
which will protect the interests of its citizens. Ethnic minorities
will also enjoy special protection.
We have a clear-cut programme on solving the problems that have
faced our republic. In order to implement this programme, we need
to reshape the policy of socioeconomic development and put special
emphasis on exploring investment resources directing them into the
most perspective fields. The scientific and intellectual potential
will also serve this purpose.
The international recognition of the Artsakh Republic, which is a
pillar of our foreign policy, will give a serious impetus to the pace
of our development. This also arises from regional interests. The
NKR defence army will be ready to rebuff any attack against our state
and people.
The issues of army building, strengthening defence capacity and
solving social problems of servicemen will always be in the centre
of our attention.
We are exclusively adherent to the principles of the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh-Azerbaijan conflict. Highly assessing
the efforts of international mediators, we hope that our opponents
will eventually realize that there is no alternative to the full
participation of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic in the negotiating
process.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The international recognition of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic is the
most important task that requires hard work to further consolidate the
potentials of Artsakh, Armenia and the diaspora and deepen traditional
cooperation. Our strength is in our unity.