STEPANAKERT–The NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy, an NGO operating in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, has called on Armenian Diaspora organizations to initiate what it considers to be a process for the international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
The letter is addressed to the traditional political parties and lobbying structures of the Armenian Diaspora.
Masis Mayilian, the organization’s president said that recent precedents in the Balkans and the Caucasus have “shown that such recognition can serve as a real mechanism to strengthen security in conflict areas and support stability at relatively little material cost.”
Mayilian’s sentiments were echoed by Gegham Bagdasaryan, a member of the organization who argued that “Our compatriots abroad have extensive experience, gained during decades fighting for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.” The time has come, he added, to use that experience “to safeguard Armenian victories in Artsakh in the framework of international law.”
In the statement, the Public Council said it believes that the recognition of Karabakh’s independence” even by provincial governments and local self-government entities” in the Diaspora would serve to “provide Artsakh with important moral and institutional support.”
We present the complete letter below:
Since April 2009, when Armenian-Turkish dialogue gained greater public prominence, we have been faced with new challenges. The process of negotiations between Armenia and Turkey and the signing of the two well-known protocols have caused much debate among Armenians.
Meantime, Turkey’s efforts to link its ratification of protocols to Armenian territorial concessions in favor of Azerbaijan have added to tensions in the Caucasus region.
With support of Diaspora Armenian organizations, Western parliaments have stepped up the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a form of pressure on the Turkish leadership which is refusing to fulfill obligations it has assumed as part of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation effort.
In response to this pressure, Turkish leaders have declared about a danger of regional destabilization. Keeping in mind Azerbaijan’s militaristic designs and the fact that Turkey remains Azerbaijan’s closest ally, there is little doubt as to where such destabilization
might occur.
In this regard, there is a need to strengthen the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s security and thus rule out a danger of another Armenian Genocide, this time in Eastern Armenia.
NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy believes that together with recognition of Genocide, Diaspora Armenian organization should make the issue of international recognition of the Artsakh Republic a priority direction of their activities. We do not believe that promotion of “commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflict” is sufficient.
Having gained substantial experience working with legislative bodies of various levels around the world, Diaspora organizations are capable of initiating the process of recognition of NKR by these entities.
One of these days, an individual will take such initiative.
I do not disagree for diaspora to step up on such a process ONLY and ONLY if Armenia's government itself has the courage to step up and recognize Artsakh! This is sending the wrong message to the Turkish world that Armenian Government is nothing without its Diaspora. ?????
Armenia should be the first country to recognise Nagorno Karabakh's Republic
My dear Diaspora organizations, ANCA, ARF-Tashnagtsutyun, Ramgavar Azadagan Gusagtsutyun, Henchagyan Gusagtsutyun; let us all get to work, Artsakh needs all of us, they are right we need to do this and as soon as possible to get to work for Artsakh's self determination and to have her attached to Armenia proper.