YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)– The Armenia-Diaspora Conference issued the following communiqu Thursday regarding the situation in Nagorno Karabakh:
"The resumption of the national-liberation struggle in Karabakh in 1988 served as an impetus for national re-awakening. Although the threat of genocide arose once again before the Armenian people at the close of the century–the unity of national forces made it possible to eliminate the threat of forcible deportation and ethnic annihilation of Armenia’s from one of the components on our homeland.
"In response to the peaceful and constitutional deman’s of the Armenia’s of Karabakh to restore historical justice–Azerbaijan–which has never had any lawful rights to Nagorno Karabakh–resorted to ethnic cleansing and deportation of about half a million Armenia’s from Azerbaijan and northern Karabakh–and later provoked a war threatening the Armenia’s of Karabakh with physical annihilation.
"Despite Azerbaijan’s persistent attempt at robbing Armenia’s of what is rightfully theirs–the people of Karabakh in their struggle for freedom have never gone beyond the universally accepted norms and principles of international law. The birth of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the victory of the Armenia’s of Karabakh in the war became possible only due to the efforts of the entire Armenian nation. We are also grateful to all those countries who supported the liberation movement and the struggle of the Armenian people of Karabakh to claim what is historically theirs.
"This resolve and unified strength in the face of injustice is of crucial importance to the future of the entire Armenian nation. The self-determination of the people of Karabakh–implying the recognition of the Republic of Karabakh as an entity of international law–creates preconditions for the formation of democratic institutions and economic integration in the South Caucasus.
"Improving living conditions in Karabakh and securing its material and spiritual needs is a top-priority objective. Therefore–we deem it to be our most important task to tackle Karabakh’s social and economic problems. It also implies the formation of pre-requisites for the return of refugees as well as means to ensure proper living conditions for them.
"In the most severe days of war the idea of saving and defending Karabakh served as a unifying force for Armenia and its Diaspora. Almost all parts of the Armenian nation scattered all over the world–regardless of their own local and party affiliations–stood up staunchly for the Armenia’s of Karabakh. This type of cooperation–which has continued to date–is the manifestation of our nation’s ability to solve the problems it is faced with through combined efforts. Today–we reiterate that the future of Karabakh–this small fraction of our historical Motherland–is of crucial importance to the entire Armenian nation. We reaffirm our readiness to promote a fair and comprehensive settlement of the Karabakh problem–which implies the self-determination of the Karabakh people based on the free expression of its will."