Artsakh parliament: Artsakh has never been and will never be part of Azerbaijan

YEREVAN, October 31. /ARKA/. An extraordinary session of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) parliament that was held along with a massive rally in its capital Stepanakert October 30, issued a statement ahead of a meeting of Russian and Azerbaijani presidents and the prime minister of Armenia in Russia's resort city of Sochi on October 31.

The statement says that recent months’ events and statements voiced by various power centers and international organizations on the prospects of settling the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and the future of Artsakh have caused serious concerns both in Artsakh and among Armenians worldwide.

It reads as follows: ‘The National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, expressing the united will of the people of Artsakh, in this decisive period states the following:

- Artsakh has never been and will never be part of independent Azerbaijan. This principle should be used as a basis for the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict;

- Any attempt to annex Artsakh by Azerbaijan by force will be a gross violation of international law and an attempt to commit a new genocide of the Armenian people; therefore, documents of such content are unacceptable to the Republic of Artsakh.

Confirming that one of the key foundations of our successes, achievements and state-building is the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity, the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh declares:

-No government of the Republic of Armenia has the right to refuse to ensure the security of the people of Artsakh or to recognize as acceptable any document that calls into question the existence of the sovereign Republic of Artsakh. We demand that the authorities of the Republic of Armenia stand up for the common interests of the two Armenian republics on international platforms, relying upon the existing fundamental documents, particularly the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia and the historic July 8, 1992 decision of the Supreme Soviet;

We urge Armenians all over the world to continue to support Artsakh, defend the rights and interests of its people in various countries and international organizations, as well as to contribute to the international recognition of the Republic of Artsakh in every possible way;

- The Republic of Artsakh is in favor of lasting peace and, therefore, supports steps aimed at signing a peace treaty; however, given the unresolved nature of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, the authorities of the Republic of Armenia must be cautious in recognizing the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

Any document or proposal that calls into question the sovereignty of the Republic of Artsakh, our right to self-determination and its implementation is unacceptable to us, as it does not reflect the historical and legal realities. The international community is obliged to respect the demand of Artsakh Armenians which is in line with the fundamental norms and principles of international law;

Taking into consideration Russia's historical role in ensuring peace and stability in our region and, in particular, President Putin's direct and effective participation in ending the 44-day war unleashed by the aggressor country Azerbaijan in 2020, we ask the Russian Federation to continue to fulfill its obligation to ensure the security of the people of Artsakh. Taking into consideration the real existential danger threatening the people of Artsakh, we propose that additional political and military mechanisms be introduced in order to strengthen our security;

- Our fight is continuous, our position is unchanging, it expresses the united will of the people of Artsakh and fully reflects the principles outlined in the statement of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh of April 14, 2022.’ -0-