AN INTERVIEW WITH NKR PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN

Azat Artsakh Daily,
14 June 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic de facto is the most stable of CIS
unrecognized states, has a position of an independent side of the
conflict and persists direct negotiations with Azerbaijan. NKR
President Bako Sahakyan has stated about it in interview with Ã?Ã?Ã? –
daily (Russia) – Are Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia ready to
discuss the question of status of some liberated territories, which are
beyond the administrative borders of post Nagorno-Karabakh
self-government? – Armenia is an independent state. Proceeding
from its independence and interests, it negotiates with Azerbaijan. But
there is the main side of the conflict – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,
just with the same primary tasks, which Azerbaijan, Armenia and other
independent states have. We are rather integrated with Armenia, we have
common economical field, common moneycurrency system. But it doesn’t
impede our independence. We respect our people’s opinion, who has
declared its independence, who adopted the Constitution last year, we
respect all attributes of our state authorities. And before expressing
our viewpoint round this or other question, we should be endowed with
possibility of participating in negotiating process. We can’t speak
about fatal question, as Karabakh’s status is – not being a participant
of negotiations. – Do you appear in favour of tripartite size
of negotiations or NKR-Azerbaijan and Armenia-Azerbaijan individual
negotiations? – We don’t attach importance to the quantity of
negotiations’ participants. But yet Azerbaijan doesn’t treat directly
with us, these all other sizes won’t be effective. – How do you
treat to military preparations of Azerbaijan and statements about
inevilability of a new war? – Militarization and warlike
oratory don’t have a psychological influence on us. The use of force
will lead to numerous human victims from two sides, but it doesn’t
solve the Karabakh problem. First of all there is an effective balance
of forces in the region, armed forces of our republic are able not only
to halt Azerbaijan’s aggression. In case of need military actions will
move to the depths of its territory. And in case of aggression we shall
treat in such way, as broadening of safety zone will be the unique way
of securing of the peace for our people. – Statements about
probability of territorial compromise in negotiations round Karabakh
are sounded in Erevan – In condition of Azerbaijan’s today’s
attitude, the conception `compromise’ becomes impossible.We are only
sure, that the problem shouldn’t be solved by unilateral order. The
problem is, that does Azerbaijan really respect the right of
Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination? So far periodic threats are
sounded about our state by Azerbaijan, they threaten to wipe out
Karabakh and Karabakh people. In such conditions it’s not appropriate
to use `compromise’ expression. -In Azerbaijan they speak about
probability of joit use of Lachin’s corridor (which connects Karabakh
with Armenia), on condition, that it will be inseparable part of
Azerbaijan. Your attitude in regard towards such suggestions. –
Azerbaijan hasn’t applied to Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with such
requests and suggestions. But I’d like to note, that without Kashatagh
region, which is very important in strategical sense, the
administrative centre of which is Berdzor (formerly Lachin), it will
not be possible to secure the safety and progressive development of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as an independent state. – Will you
let Azerbaijan refugees come back to Nagorno-Karabakh? –
Authorities of our republic don’t exclude return of Azerbaijan refugees
to Karabakh. We are sure, that its not merely possible till political
solution of the problem.We can’t lead this contingent of refugees to
new tragic events by unthinking actions. It’s also necessary to
coincide with the problem of Armenian refugees. While today it is
discussed unilaterally. Naturally, it is not sufficient for us.
– In Azerbaijan they state, that NKR management has settled 25 thousand
people in Lachin and Kalbadjar, and that 30 % of migrants as if has
left these regions.What’s the demographical policy of NKR in liberated
territories? – A great part of population of these regions are
refugees from Shahumyan region, North Artsakh, as well as different
settlements of former Azerbaijan SSR. They lost everything, and
founding here they returned to normal life. The refugees and inner
migrants are one of the most vulnerable layers of our country’s
population, and we have special attitude towards them irrespective of
where they live. – Marks of social state are noticed in NKR,
which are rare phenomena for post soviet region: benefits for mothers
and young couples, privileged hypothec crediting, considerable expenses
in the sphere of education and health service.Why has NKR decided to
incur such expenses in political and economical not clear situation?
– In the first point of the first clause of our Constitution it is
noted, that Nagorno-Karabakh republic is self-independent, democratic,
legal and social state. And one of the best indices of social state are
socially safed citizens. And we practically realize what the supreme
law of our republic obligates. Simultaneously such expenses only
strengthen our statehood. – How does it have to do with market
conditions, in which the economy of NKR and its main partners develops?
– Quite naturally. World practice shows, that market economy
and social state are categories filling each other. Permenant
development and presence of social sphere have a positive effect on the
rate of the economy’s growth. As many people are socially safed, as
much optimistically they will see future. – What do you expect
from Russia? Does the role, which it has in OSCE Minsk Group, satisfy
you? – The crumbly peace, which we have today, is a great merit
of Russia, especially in the first stage – just after the contract’s
signing. Naturally, we want Russia has greater influence on the work of
regulation of either our conflict or such other conflicts. As Russia
simultaneously bears also the historical responsibility for which is
going on in the region. But it’s a problem of world character, and such
countries like United States, France, England also bear responsibility
for everything taken place in the South Caucasus. Naturally they pursue
their own interests, which in my opinion, is also normal. – In
your opinion, are the size and degree of responsibility of Russia, the
USA and France comparable in the question of the region’s fate?
– Today they can be comparable, but the degree of Russia’s historical
responsibility, of course, is greater, than the degree of historical
responsibility of the USA. Because, when we have had relations with
Russia, the United States have not generally been here.