Stepanakert ready to negotiate with Baku - Bako Sahakyan
Independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) has entered its twenties. In an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta NKR President Bako Sahakyan told about the counties' achievements, problems and priorities.
- Mr. President, what have been the three major achievements of Nagorno-Karabakh since it gained independence 20 years ago?
- I would point out the following three groups of our country's major achievements. First, independent statehood and its institutions. All the three branches of power have been completely formed and are efficiently operating. The NKR has an efficient army, which not only guarantees its independence and security, but also serves as a stabilizing factor in the region. Our country embarked on the road of democratic development, and independent Nagorno-Karabakh does not pose any threat to any state -either in the South Caucasus or in the world. Secondly, we have been able to cope with the aftermath of the horrible war unleashed by Azerbaijan, which actually destroyed our economy. Artakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is now a steadily developing economy with high-level domestic stability.
One more achievement is the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora alliance, which is one of the fundamentals of our independent statehood and is of paramount political, economic and psychological importance for both Artsakh and all Armenians.
- What are the county's top priority tasks?
- I have said that our country steadily developing, but, like any other state, we have problems to deal with. As some problems are resolved, others arise, which process is taking place in all the countries. In this context, I would group the tasks facing our country into politico-military and socio-economic ones. Among the politico-military tasks are the following priorities: first, maintaining strategic balance between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. At the same time, we are for a peaceful settlement of the conflict by means of negotiations and are doing our utmost. International recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh is an all-important political issue for us. We are well aware the issue is not an easy one and requires a lot of time and efforts. However, the Nagorno-Karabakh people and leadership are determined to go on struggling for international recognition. Constant improvement of our government system, further democratic reforms, formation of civil society and legal reforms is an important political task as well. In this context, we attach special importance to establishing ties with different countries and agencies, whose experience is necessary for our development.
As regards socio-economic tasks, improving living standards – especially for socially vulnerable sections of the population – is an urgent task. Among them are also improving the demographic situation, developing such sectors as economy, energy, mining and processing industries, agriculture and tourism. Also, we attach special importance to attracting investments. We have created a favorable investment environment, and we have rather liberal tax laws and pay special attention to legal protection of investors' rights.
- Unlike Abkhazia and Ossetia, with their independence recognized by some states, Nagorno-Karabakh has not yet been recognized. Are there any signs that the NKR's sovereignty will be recognized in the near future?
- I have noted that the NKR's international recognition is among our priorities. In fact, there are no legal grounds for not recognizing our independence. In this aspect, our arguments are unassailable. Another matter is geopolitical reasons, conflicting interests and so on, which are, to an extent, deterrents to Nagorno-Karabakh's recognition. But I think that geopolitics and conflicting interests must give way to right and morals. Striking evidence thereof is that, over the past three or four years, the process of recognition of unrecognized states has entered a new, higher-level stage. Nonetheless, precedents are not decisive factors for us in getting Nagorno-Karabakh internationally recognized. We will struggle for recognition irrespective of whether or not other unrecognized states have been recognized. We have all the grounds – historical, legal, political and moral.
- In studying the details of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, one gets the impression that NKR representatives may soon return to the negotiating table…
- Nagorno-Karabakh's involvement in the peace process as a full negotiator is the only chance for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. The international mediators, particularly the OSCE Mink Group, admit this fact. Stepanakert is ready for direct negotiations with Baku as well as for discussing any issues. I think returning to the full negotiation format is only a matter of time. The sooner it happens the sooner the conflict will be resolved.
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