By Mariam Levina
Armenian News-NEWS.am had an exclusive interview with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), or Artsakh, President Bako Sahakyan. Below is an abridged version of the interview.
It is difficult to underestimate the importance of the ceasefire agreement that was signed twenty years ago. In your view, what has it given to Nagorno-Karabakh and how is the agreement being implemented?
The establishment of peace, though relative, has given a lot. Most importantly, the war has stopped; tens of thousands of people’s lives have been saved. Artsakh received the opportunity to recover from the effects of war. Our people managed to create a reliable basis for a progressive development.
Azerbaijan had to agree to a ceasefire. If it were not for the ceasefire agreement, the future of that country would have been very hazy.
Overall, the peace, stability, and the military balance of power between Karabakh and Azerbaijan are maintained.
A lot has been said about the possible deployment of international peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone. Do you think there is a need for this?
The Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict zone is the only one in the world where peace and stability are ensured solely by the conflicting parties. I believe this is also an evidence of the fact that Azerbaijan and Karabakh can coexist as two neighboring sovereign states. At this phase, [however,] I see no objective prerequisites for deploying international peacekeeping forces in the region.
How much do the attempts to override the principle of the territorial integrity to the principle of self-determination of nations comply with international law?
These principles are the absolute equivalent values of international law. The attempts to set superiority between them are not only ineffective, but they mean a violation of international law.
The principle of territorial integrity cannot be a basis for disregarding the right of nations to self-determination and, or, prohibiting its implementation. A counteraction to the implementation of this right means the encouragement of a genocidal policy.
Any nation living in their historic homeland and being discriminated or harassed by the state, a part of which they became for somereason or other, may exercise their inalienable right to self-determination. Impeding the exercise of this right is promotion of genocidal policies as well as promotion of extremism and totalitarianism.
There is a talk about the need for Nagorno-Karabakh’s participation in the negotiation process. Don’t you think that the time has come for this?
I believe the need for official Stepanakert to partake in the negotiation process is a constant need and it does not depend on any particular moment; it has always been topical. It is impossible to achieve a full settlement of the conflict without our participation. Simply, as a result of [official] Baku’s destructive policy, the complete format of the talks has not yet been restored; but this likewise is a matter of time.
