The issue of defending the collective rights of Artsakh residents, including the right to return to Artsakh, is our strategic goal. Former Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan stated this in a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Humanitarian programs should serve this agenda, he said.

"We should not allow the Armenian authorities to close this issue. It should be on the negotiating table with Azerbaijan. Without a clear position of the Armenian authorities, we will not achieve the result. They must emphasize that this does not mean territorial claims to Azerbaijan. The International Court of Justice made a relevant decision on the right of return of the Artsakh people," he noted.

Beglaryan called the housing issue the most acute social problem of Artsakh residents.

"Based on these reasons, it is wrong to compare Artsakh residents with the residents of Armenia who are deprived of housing. Artsakh residents became displaced as a result of genocide due to the failure of Armenia to fulfill its commitments. Russia, France, the USA, and, in general, the whole international community also failed.

In addition, we have the status of refugees, for which Armenia has additional obligations. In our case, the source of funding is also different. Armenia should demand large sums of money from the international community to solve the social problems of the Artsakh people. Instead of that the Armenian authorities declare that they solve those problems in a spectacular way, giving a signal to the international community that there is no need for their support," the former Minister stressed.

He said he is actively cooperating with members of the Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights of the Artsakh People, headed by former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan.

"Active, effective co-operation is underway. I hope that the Committee will move to the stage of public activity. It is important that this Committee does not cast a shadow on Artsakh's state institutions or take over their powers," Beglaryan concluded.