Immediate Action Required: Artsakh Parliament Appeals to OSCE Minsk Group

The National Assembly of Artsakh has issued a statement today, February 18, in connection with the Day of Revival. We present the text of the statement:

“The events that took place in Artsakh (previously Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast) in February 1988 fundamentally changed not only the fate of the indigenous Armenian people living here, but also that of other peoples of the former Soviet Union. Tens of thousands of people, utilizing the liberal and democratic ideals proclaimed in the USSR, sought to restore historical justice through peaceful rallies in Stepanakert and other towns of the region, aspiring to fulfill the long-unrealized dream of several generations to reunite the Armenian region with Armenia.

The movement, which gained popular momentum day by day, initially adopted a trajectory to address the raised issue through peaceful, legal, and political means, as confirmed undeniably during the 20th extraordinary session of the regional council of popular deputies of the former district on February 20, when a historical decision was made to withdraw the NKAO from the Azerbaijan SSR and reunite it with the Armenian SSR. This decision marked a new phase in the national liberation struggle of Artsakh, affirming the determination of the Armenian people to pursue their rights in a civilized, legal manner.

Unfortunately, the leadership of the Azerbaijan SSR was unable to seize the exceptional opportunity to resolve the issue correctly, resulting in a prolonged instability in the region and entrapment in Azerbaijan's temptations to resolve the issue through military means.

The result of the February 20 decision, reflecting the will and desire of the overwhelming majority of the region's population, rightfully transformed Artsakh into a symbol of pride and national awakening for the entire Armenian nation. The wave of the Karabakh movement spread worldwide, and as a result of the organized struggle of all segments of the Armenian people, two Armenian republics were formed in the early 1990s. The Republic of Artsakh, proclaimed on September 2, 1991, and shaped in accordance with the requirements of international law and domestic legislation, was a conscious milestone on the path leading to a unified Armenian state.

Our people paid an immeasurably high price in the struggle for the freedom and independence of Artsakh, with thousands of Armenians sacrificing their lives during the conflicts of 1991-94, the four-day war in 2016, and the 44-day war in 2020. The Republic of Artsakh exists today and continues its struggle for international recognition thanks to the selflessness of these brave individuals. We pay homage to their eternal memory.

In the past 34 years, we have traversed a long path of establishment and development, victories and setbacks, during which the idea has firmly taken root that the future of Armenian Artsakh is guaranteed only through the prospect of living freely and independently.

Expressing the collective will and opinion of the people of Artsakh, the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh reaffirms its commitment to the historical decision of February 20, 1988, and its determination to defend its right to live freely on its native land. It draws the attention of international stakeholders, and first and foremost, the parliaments of the co-chair countries of the Minsk group, to the fact that the people of Artsakh have fought for centuries to preserve their identity, creating material and cultural values that are now endangered due to Azerbaijan's occupation of certain territories of the Republic of Artsakh. It calls on the co-chairs of the Minsk group to take immediate action in accordance with the mandate received from the OSCE to resume the negotiation process aimed at resolving the Karabakh conflict.

Long-lasting peace and stability in the region can only be achieved through respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of the Republic of Artsakh. It is for this purpose that the Armenians of Artsakh began their liberation struggle in 1988 and are determined to continue it until the final goal is achieved.