NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy

Press release

Stepanakert, April 26 2010

NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy has called on
Armenian Diaspora organizations to initiate the process of
international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

In a letter addressed to three traditional political parties and
lobbying structures of the Armenian Diaspora, the Council noted that:

`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.’

Masis Mayilian, president of the Public Council for Foreign and
Security Policy noted 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.

Gegham Bagdasaryan, member of the NKR Parliament and the Public
Council member recalled that `Our compatriots abroad have extensive
experience, gained during decades fighting for recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. Time has come to use that experience to safeguard
Armenian victories in Artsakh in the framework of international law.’

The Public Council believes that Artsakh’s recognition even by
provincial governments and local self-government entities would serve
to provide Artsakh with important moral and institutional support.