In Independence Day address Nikol Pashinyan reaffirms Armenia's commitment to Alma-Ata Declaration
YEREVAN, September 21. /ARKA/.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in his congratulations on the 32nd anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia reaffirmed the commitment to the Alma-Ata Declaration.
Pashinyan said that lately, when conducting foreign and regional policy, he has often been criticized for relying on the Alma-Ata Declaration of December, 1991 and related documents, which were also signed by the Republic of Armenia. He said many are calling directly and indirectly to abandon the policy based on that document.
'The issue is that the Alma-Ata Declaration and related documents are one of the fundamental factors of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, which records the political and legal basis for 12 former USSR republics, including the Republic of Armenia, gaining independence from the Soviet Union, as well as the fundamental principles of that independence, 'Pashinyan said, adding ,'and therefore, calls to abandon politics based on that document are calls to abandon Armenia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, with all the consequences arising from this.'
According to Pashinyan, it is important to understand why 'we have to go through this path of trials. To say that for the sake of Independence means to say a large part of the truth, but not the most important part. Because independence, no matter how high a goal, is actually a means to achieve a higher goal. It is about the happiness of our future generations. We must inherit them an Armenia where people can freely express themselves, build their own happiness through free and creative work. This path is not easy, it goes through external and internal shocks, and we must go through this path for the sake of independence, for the sake of statehood, for the sake of the future.'
At a meeting in Prague on October 6, 2022, with the participation of the French President and the President of the European Council, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev, reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, through which both sides recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
At trilateral talks in Brussels on May 14, 2023, they reaffirmed their unconditional commitment to the Alma-Ata Declaration and the respective territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 square kilometers) and Azerbaijan (86,600 square kilometers).
Later, on May 22, 2023, Pashinyan declared his readiness to recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, provided that the rights and security of Karabakh Armenians are guaranteed.
On September 19 Azerbaijan launched an "anti-terror" operation in the region demanding that Karabakh's forces raise a white flag, disband their armed forces and dissolve their "illegal regime".
After 24-hour fierce fighting the ethnic Armenian authorities in Stepanakert gave in. Under the terms of the truce, outlined by Azerbaijan and the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent on the ground, Karabakh armed forces must commit to being completely disbanded as well as disarmed.
According to the Nagorno-Karabakh human rights defender’s office, more than 10 thousand people have been evacuated from the communities seized by Azerbaijanis, several thousand cannot find their missing relatives -women, children and elderly people.
As of 21:30 September 20, the number of casualties stood at 200, including children, the number of wounded at more than 400.
Azerbaijani officials and Karabakh's Armenian representatives are meeting today for "re-integration" talks in the Azerbaijani town of Yevlakh. -0-
