NKR FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGY PETROSSIAN’S COMMENTARY
KarabakhOpen
23-04-2007 18:02:41
NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian’s commentary on mass media’s
question concerning the statement of the Chairman of the CE Committee
of Ministers Fiorenzo Stolfi on the forthcoming presidential elections
in the NKR
Question: Mr. Minister, how will you comment the statement of the
CE Committee of Ministers, Foreign Minister of San Marino Fiorenzo
Stolfi concerning the information that the forthcoming elections in
Nagorno Karabakh cannot create favorable conditions for the conflict
settlement since they predetermine the region’s status?
Commentary: The statement of the Chairman of the CE Committee of
Ministers denotes once more that the European officials of even
such high level are poorly aware of the Karabakh conflict’s essence
and process. Representatives of different European structures try to
compensate this gap by using stereotyped answers, as Foreign Minister
of San Marino Fiorenzo Stolfi did. However, similar standard approach
to the Karabakh problem as a whole, and the process of civil society
building in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in particular, which has
recently become established in the international structures is
counterproductive and dangerous. The indulgence to the caprices
of the Azerbaijani side, which is more often demonstrated by the
European officials, can be perceived as an attempt to bring Nagorno
Karabakh back to the past. In connection with this, I would like to
remind Mr. Fiorenzo Stolfi that any attempts to deprive the people
of Nagorno Karabakh of the right to democratic development and civil
society strengthening are condemned to failure.
Under the conditions of democracy the elections are crucial institute
of demonstrating political role of the people as the source of
power. The forthcoming presidential elections in the NKR are not
an exception. They cannot impact the Karabakh conflict settlement
process and cannot predetermine Nagorno Karabakh’s status, as their
main function is to form power through democratic mechanisms. The
NKR’s status was determined by the will of people of Nagorno Karabakh
at December 10, 1991 referendum in conformity with the norms of the
international law and the national legislation which was in force
during that period.
It should be noted that we have repeatedly invited the representatives
of various European structures to visit Nagorno Karabakh and get
acquainted with the situation on-site to overcome the stereotypes
and clichés, which have become established among European officials
regarding Nagorno Karabakh.
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