DEMOGRAPHY- THE STRATEGIC PROBLEM

Azat Artsakh Daily
22 Oct 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On October 16th in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic unprecedented wedding for
the republic took place solemnly , at confluence of thousand people,
700 young couples were married. This event was really grandiose,
scale, we will not hide, with show elements that gave it special
beauty and solemnity. For the sake of so important action this day
even had been declared by non-working in the republic. However at
all staginess of a wedding celebration we admit, that it was not the
main thing nevertheless. Value of the action, certainly, first of
all should be considered from the point of view of improvement of
a demographic situation of NKR and widely its national safety – as
providing of growth of the population is an element of national safety.

It is excessive to say, that in conditions of non regulation of the
Karabakh conflict the decision of a demographic question finds a
special urgency.

It is known, that the demographic problem in Nagorno-Karabakh has
always stood . During the Soviet period number of the Armenian
population practically did not grow owing to discrimination of the
Azerbaijan authorities. The unleashed war of Azerbaijan against
NKR has even more aggravated the problem, as it has led to death
of a certain part of the man’s population, mainly – reproductive
age. Besides, even after war the astable military-political situation
in the Karabakh conflict zone for some years became the reason of
demographic stagnation. Today, when people have a confidence of
tomorrow, the systemic approach to the decision of a demographic
problem is necessary. Threat to national safety- are not mere
words. Demographic crisis – in case of its further continuation – in
perspective is fraught with all that significant loss that managed
to achieve as in days of war, and post-war building, including
also independent statehood of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. As the
initiator and the main sponsor of a big marriage Levon Hayrapetyan
has absolutely fairly noticed, the demographic situation for the
nation is more important than tanks, planes and rockets. Certainly,
the NKR management has always had the understanding of this true,
however the problem is that not always it has been supported with
an effective state policy. Moreover, sometimes even declarative,
frankly speaking, populist statements without acceptance of real and
effective measures sounded. Yes, programs of stimulation of birth
rate and a possession of many children were accepted, however they
have not given essential results. The reason, is that the decision of
a demographic problem assumes first of all the decision of a complex
of questions connected with increase of a standard of living of the
population, creation of a corresponding social infrastructure. After
all the quantity of children in a family directly depends on well-being
of the given family, presence of qualitative flats and a permanent
job. Today’s management of the republic really pays the most steadfast
attention to the given problem, showing the conceptual approach to
its decision. For the purpose of stimulation of birth rate and a
possession of many children serious grants are paid to families and
a newly-married couples, kindergardens open, schools and flats are
under construction. And it is very important, that for realization
of this really scale project of the political importance not only
resources of the state, but also means of philanthropists should be
involved. Thus the problem is truly national, from decision of which,
we will repeat, the future of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic depends. The
first results, it is necessary to tell, inspire optimism. Dynamics
of growth of demographic indexes testifies, that effective, real
measures give also visible results. For 8 months of this year the
natural population increase in the republic in comparison with the
same period of 2007 has grown on 111 persons, a mechanical increase –
on 543 persons. If to take statistics of last month, in September,
2008 in NKR 242 children were born against 205 children for the same
month of the past year were born. Having many children has been always
in traditions of Artsakh families. And the demographic problem in NKR
needs to be solved – for the sake of the future of the same children.