STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)–The Public TV and Radio Broadcasting Company of Mountainous Karabagh Republic recently aired a 1993 interview with the current Parliamentary of Council of Europe’s (PACE) Rapporteur on Mountainous Karabagh David Atkinson–in which Atkinson affirms the rights of the people of Mountainous Karabagh–and condemns Azerbaijan for launching the war in the region.
"I think the people of Karabagh have the right to decide their own destiny and future. Our organization and I shall personally do everything so that the Karabagh Armenia’s live a free and full life on their land," David Atkinson notes in a 1993 interview conducted in the village of Kichan–in the Mardakert region of Karabagh.
But after his 2004 appointment as Rapporteur–he sharply announced that the principle of right to self-determination is not applicable to Mountainous Karabagh Republic.
Just last week–in his recommendations presented to PACE–Atkinson criticized Armenian forces for occupying considerable parts of Azerbaijan’s territory–and said that the 1988-94 war has led to large-scale ethnic expulsions and the creation of mono-ethnic areas that "resemble the terrible concept of ethnic cleansing."
In 1993–Atkinson categorically blames Azerbaijan for starting the war–"What I have seen is above my imagination. Here is a real war which is taking away many lives on a daily basis. It is obvious that Azerbaijan launched this war; Azerbaijan will not be a member of the Council of Europe unless it is stopped." He further describes the Azeris as "vandals" for desecrating Christian churches in Shushi.