NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian’s commentary on NKR presidential elections

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Mr. Minister, how will you comment the statement of the CE Committee of Ministers, Foreign Minister of San Marino Fiorenzo Stolfi concerning the information that the forthcoming elections in Nagorno Karabakh cannot create favorable conditions for the conflict settlement since they predetermine the region’s status?

The statement of the Chairman of the CE Committee of Ministers denotes once more that the European officials of even such high level are poorly aware of the Karabakh conflict’s essence and process. Representatives of different European structures try to compensate this gap by using stereotyped answers, as Foreign Minister of San Marino Fiorenzo Stolfi did. However, similar standard approach to the Karabakh problem as a whole, and the process of civil society building in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in particular, which has recently become established in the international structures is counterproductive and dangerous. The indulgence to the caprices of the Azerbaijani side, which is more often demonstrated by the European officials, can be perceived as an attempt to bring Nagorno Karabakh back to the past. In connection with this, I would like to remind Mr. Fiorenzo Stolfi that any attempts to deprive the people of Nagorno Karabakh of the right to democratic development and civil society strengthening are condemned to failure.

Under the conditions of democracy the elections are crucial institute of demonstrating political role of the people as the source of power. The forthcoming presidential elections in the NKR are not an exception. They cannot impact the Karabakh conflict settlement process and cannot predetermine Nagorno Karabakh’s status, as their main function is to form power through democratic mechanisms. The NKR’s status was determined by the will of people of Nagorno Karabakh at December 10, 1991 referendum in conformity with the norms of the international law and the national legislation which was in force during that period.

It should be noted that we have repeatedly invited the representatives of various European structures to visit Nagorno Karabakh and get acquainted with the situation on-site to overcome the stereotypes and clichés, which have become established among European officials regarding Nagorno Karabakh.