It is Surprising That Such a Statement Came from the Prime Minister of Armenia: Statement from the Artsakh National Assembly

The National Assembly of Artsakh has issued a statement regarding the threats and challenges to the sovereignty and subjectivity of the Republic of Artsakh, which we present below:

Throughout the history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, statements that distort the essence of the issue have periodically circulated, complicating and entangling the process of comprehensive and final resolution of the conflict. We consider any statements from various political forces and figures that cast doubt on or diminish the subjectivity of Artsakh and its Armenian future as unacceptable.

It is surprising that the most recent such statement was made by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia during a response to questions from media and civil society representatives on December 24.

The fate of Artsakh has never been and will never be a monopoly of any political force. Expressing the views and positions of the broad spectrum of society and political circles of the Republic of Artsakh, we express our disagreement and indignation regarding several harmful and dangerous phrases and ideas articulated during the interview.

It raises concern that statements are made against the backdrop of the outcomes of the 1988 national liberation struggle, casting doubt on the existence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), proclaimed on September 2, 1991, which was fully compliant with international legal norms, and its enduring struggle for international recognition.

During the negotiation processes of previous years, the legal and political foundations of the Armenian sides and the protection of our national interests in that context did not contradict the positions presented by international organizations and mediators.

It is confirmed by clarifications from the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group that the issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh has never been ignored in the previously proposed offers by mediators.

Discussions about the working options discussed over the years in the negotiation process and possible changes in the negotiation format are alarming and dangerous.

We find unacceptable statements that cast doubt on the Armenian identity of Artsakh and emphasize the importance of the potential presence of foreign elements, which are condemnable and disgraceful in front of the memory of the thousands of heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of Artsakh.

Bowing our heads before all the martyrs of the Artsakh struggle, we simultaneously express our gratitude to the entire Armenian community, especially our compatriots in the Republic of Armenia, for standing by Artsakh and sharing its sufferings and hardships.

The fraternal relations between the two Armenian republics have been uninterruptedly operational for years, based on the decision adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia on July 8, 1992, which explicitly defined the attitude of the Republic of Armenia, a full member of the international community, towards the Republic of Artsakh, which strives for international recognition. By that decision, the Republic of Armenia is obliged to "consistently support the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and the protection of the rights of its population."

It is also established that "the Republic of Armenia considers it unacceptable any international or internal document in which the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh is mentioned as part of Azerbaijan." This resolution remains relevant today.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, reaffirming the position of the people and authorities of Artsakh regarding the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Artsakh, declares that it is unacceptable to express positions on matters concerning the future of Artsakh without considering the views of the authorities of Artsakh, as the decisions regarding the future of Artsakh can only be made by the authorities formed through elections by the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh.