ArmInfo. There exist redlines not to be crossed. Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan, Gegham Stepanyan, Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, told reporters on the sidelines on the Future Armenian forum as he responded to a question about possible signing of an Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement in Brussels, which would grant cultural autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh.
No autonomy is acceptable to the Artsakh people. "It is not an end in itself nor is it a whim. The Artsakh people know what it means to be autonomy in Azerbaijan on the basis of clear demographic indicators and the discriminatory policy implemented by Soviet Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani population was steadily increasing in Nagorno-Karabakh, whereas the Armenian population was decreasing. The Azerbaijani way of life and culture was being forced on the Artsakh Armenians. We have repeatedly stated we are not going to be part of Azerbaijan whoever agrees on or adopts anything," Mr Stepanyan said.
And even if such a document is adopted, the Artsakh people will not accept it.
"If a decision happens to be removed from reality, can it be forced on us? The statements by our National Assembly and everyday statements by our foreign office suggest that the Artsakh authorities and people are unanimously stating there exist redlines that cannot be crossed. The Artsakh people's fate cannot be decided without their will considered. Those sitting in Brussels or in Washington cannot decide on the life Stepanakert or Martuni residents must live. It is absurd," Mr Stepanyan said.
Following various meetings, he has the impression that Artsakh is being persuaded into agreeing to join Azerbaijan under the pretext of international mechanisms of protection of rights.
"Our clear answer was: 'Do not be deceived. It is impossible.' We are witnessing a discriminatory policy followed by a 30-year-period of Azerbaijan's policy of hatred toward Armenians. What rational person would think that Artsakh could be part of Azerbaijan after that and the Artsakh people's rights would be protected in Azerbaijan," Mr Stepanyan said.
Azerbaijanis brutally murdered 80 civilians, and Azerbaijan is systematically destroying Armenian cultural monuments in the occupied territories.
"What autonomy is being talked about?" Mr Stepanyan said.
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