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“LIBERATED TERRITORIES ARE REFUGEES’ HOMELAND”

Politics

Unless the issue of Armenian refugees is settled, the liberated territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic should be regarded as a compensation for material and moral losses. The territories should become Armenian refugees’ new homeland, Arman Melikyan, the Advisor to the NKR President announced July 4. According to Arman Melikyan, his statement doesn’t greatly differ from official Stepanakert’s stance. The head of the NKR Department on Refugee and Migration issues also made such a statement.

In my opinion, the best way to settle the NKR conflict is through national and regional division. Azeris will not return to their former settlements and Armenians will not settle in Baku, Sumgait, and Kirovabad. Armenian refugees have already turned to the NKR President with the request to compensate their losses.

Arman Melikyan regards this step as an act of confidence towards NKR authorities. Actually, the have given the mandate to the Karabakh government to act on their behalf, and it is very important.

The support of 500 thousand people to the NKR authorities and the assistance rendered to these people can serve a serious ground for the Karabakh conflict resolution.

The liberated territories must be given to the refugees with the right to property. The refugees can either live there or sell them. It is upon them to decide. The lands are fertile. Many companies and businessmen are interested in their purchase. They can legally conclude a bargain and set up their own business there. The question must be shifted to the economic sphere.

To A1+’s question why the issue of refugees’ settlement has been ignored up to now, Arman Melikyan answered, “The question should be addressed to the negotiation participants who deal with the settlement issues. This a shortcoming of the negotiation process which can be recovered after the NKR becomes the key actor of the negotiations. Neither Terry Devis nor anyone else can forbid 500 thousand Armenian refugees to come to the NKR and become NKR citizens.”