"NKR CONSTITUTION DEFINES NKR TERRITORIES"
Victoria Abrahamyan

2/movses-hakobyan
04:42 pm | October 12, 2009

Politics

NKR Minister Movses Hakobian doesn’t see Karabakh as a precondition in
the Armenian-Turkish Protocols signed in Zurich on October 10. In an
interview with "A1+", Mr. Hakobian ensured that the Karabakh conflict
cannot be resolved without NKR’s participation.

-The Protocols have aroused no serious concerns in me over the NKR. As
NKR Defense Minister, I do not want to comment on the activity of
Armenia’s President. I can only assure you that the Karabakh conflict
must be resolved only with the participation of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic.

-Mr. Hakobian, you say that Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved
without NKR’s participation while Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev
recently announced in Nakhijevan that the settlement has entered a
final stage. What does it mean?

-The Karabakh conflict cannot have entered the final stage; it is
just propaganda by Azerbaijan’s President.

-Can you say that the rumours on the territorial surrender raised by
the negotiating sides and Co-Chairs are also the result of Azerbaijani
propaganda?

-NKR’s Constitution defines NKR’s territories which can be changed
only after constitutional amendments through a referendum. If anyone
questions the NKR Constitution, it is their problem.

-Do you expect any changes from the next meeting of Presidents Serzh
Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev?

Regardless of anything, all meetings on the NKR are interesting to
me but the meetings are not meant for decision making. In my opinion,
the final stage of the settlement is still far away.

-The need for Karabakh’s engagement in the talks is also raised by
the Co-Chairs but they do not specify the time. When, in your view,
can the NKR become a full participant of the talks?

-Nagorno Karabakh will be engaged in the negotiations when Azerbaijan
is ready for it.

-Why doesn’t Azerbaijan want to speak to the NKR
tete-a-tete? Ultimately, the question is to be addressed by Azerbaijan
and Nagorno-Karabakh.

-For the simple reason that Azerbaijan is not ready to reckon with
reality.

-Azerbaijan not only ignores the reality, but also makes bellicose
statements and expands its military budget. Does the NKR population
feel secure today?

-NKR Government’s Defense Ministry has always ensured Karabakh’s
security, even during the war. We are most concerned over the activity
of the Azeri Defense Ministry, for Azerbaijan commits to military
actions today.

-The international community turns a blind eye to bellicose statements
and violations of the ceasefire by Azerbaijan? What is your opinion
in this respect?

-I am not Karabakh’s Foreign Minister and I don’t hold a political
position. I am a soldier, and I don’t think someone will help us to
curb Azerbaijan. We must restrain Azerbaijan ourselves.

-The point is that today the talks continue without the participation
of the NKR. If Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a document, will it be
approved by Karabakh?

-It is impossible.

-How do you evaluate the spirit of the Karabakhi people?

-You can feel the spirit of the people after you go out into the
street and talk to them.

-Can we say that the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are
ready to stand up for their lands and they cannot be bound up with
any political decision?

-In this sense, NKR is not a matter of debate.