Karabakh NGO Calls On Diaspora to Step-Up Efforts to Win Republic’s Recognition
Asbarez
Apr 27th, 2010
STEPANAKERT
The NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy, an NGO
operating in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, has called on Armenian
Diaspora organizations to initiate what it considers to be a process
for the international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
The letter is addressed to the traditional political parties and
lobbying structures of the Armenian Diaspora.
Masis Mayilian, the organization’s president said that recent
precedents in the Balkans and the Caucasus have "shown that such
recognition can serve as a real mechanism to strengthen security in
conflict areas and support stability at relatively little material
cost."
Mayilian’s sentiments were echoed by Gegham Bagdasaryan, a member
of the organization who argued that "Our compatriots abroad have
extensive experience, gained during decades fighting for recognition
of the Armenian Genocide." The time has come, he added, to use that
experience "to safeguard Armenian victories in Artsakh in the framework
of international law."
In the statement, the Public Council said it believes that the
recognition of Karabakh’s independence" even by provincial governments
and local self-government entities" in the Diaspora would serve to
"provide Artsakh with important moral and institutional support."
We present the complete letter below:
Since April 2009, when Armenian-Turkish dialogue gained greater public
prominence, we have been faced with new challenges. The process of
negotiations between Armenia and Turkey and the signing of the two
well-known protocols have caused much debate among Armenians.
Meantime, Turkey’s efforts to link its ratification of protocols to
Armenian territorial concessions in favor of Azerbaijan have added
to tensions in the Caucasus region.
With support of Diaspora Armenian organizations, Western parliaments
have stepped up the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide
as a form of pressure on the Turkish leadership which is refusing to
fulfill obligations it has assumed as part of the Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation effort.
In response to this pressure, Turkish leaders have declared about
a danger of regional destabilization. Keeping in mind Azerbaijan’s
militaristic designs and the fact that Turkey remains Azerbaijan’s
closest ally, there is little doubt as to where such destabilization
might occur.
In this regard, there is a need to strengthen the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic’s security and thus rule out a danger of another Armenian
Genocide, this time in Eastern Armenia.
NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy believes that
together with recognition of Genocide, Diaspora Armenian organization
should make the issue of international recognition of the Artsakh
Republic a priority direction of their activities. We do not believe
that promotion of "commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflict"
is sufficient.
Having gained substantial experience working with legislative bodies
of various levels around the world, Diaspora organizations are capable
of initiating the process of recognition of NKR by these entities.