Let No One Think That Addressing the Needs of the People of Artsakh Can Be Considered Closing the Chapter: Beglaryan

The former Prime Minister of Artsakh, Artak Beglaryan, has written:

“Considering Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's speech at the European Parliament yesterday and his numerous statements since September 19, the following impressions arise:

1. It seems that the authorities of the Republic of Armenia have renounced even the general principle related to Artsakh in the process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, namely, guaranteeing the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of international mechanisms.
2. After the genocide and displacement of the people of Artsakh, the lowering of the bar is not acceptable or permissible; its complete elimination is even more unacceptable. The forced displacement of the people of Artsakh did not resolve the issue but rather made it more pronounced.
3. This situation obliges the Armenian authorities and international actors to review their failed approaches and raise the bar for guaranteeing the rights and security of the people of Artsakh. The main objectives should be the return of the people of Artsakh to their homeland, international guarantees for their safe living there, and a high level of self-governance necessary for living with dignity. I will address this conceptual approach in a separate publication.
4. I have the impression that all parties interested in normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations were pleased with the fact of the genocide of the people of Artsakh, naively believing that this problematic knot has been overcome and a window of opportunity has opened for a “peace agreement.” However, the reality is that there cannot be peace in the region at the expense of the blood and tragedies of the people of Artsakh, and the genocidal dictator Aliyev will not be satisfied with that.
5. Therefore, the issues of the rights and security of the people of Artsakh must be addressed seriously and conclusively within the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process, or else it too will fail.
6. Let no one think that the needs of the people of Artsakh are merely humanitarian in nature, and that addressing them can be considered closing the chapter. No, the primary need and goal of the people of Artsakh is to live in safety and dignity in their homeland, and the humanitarian needs arose due to a complete failure to meet this main need.”