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The ONLY FUNDAMENTAL DOCUMENT SIGNED BY KARABAKH

Politics

“The cease-fire treaty achieved between the conflicting sides, Azerbaijan and Armenia, de facto certifies to Armenia's military victory,” former Foreign Minister Vagharshak Harutiunian quoted from British journalist Tom de Vaal's book “Kharabakh: Black Garden.”

Vagharshak Harutiunian participated in the elaboration of the document in 1994 and in the talks over the Karabakh conflict.

“Fourteen years have passed since then. This is really a serious document which allows honouring the cease-fire regime and finding a political solution to the matter. This is the only document signed by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic although the Azeri side was against Karabakh's involvement in the talks,” he says.

He notes that the cease-fire regime is observed without a direct participation of peacekeeping forces. In this view, the Karabakh conflict is unique in South Caucasus. The guarantee for the observation of cease-fire regime is the equilibrium of military forces.

According to the former FM, all attempts of signing an agreement in 1992-1994 were doomed to failure. Armenia's military achievements of 1994 contributed to the treaty conclusion.

Lieutenant-General Vagharshak Harutiunian says the idea of a cease-fire agreement was proposed by RF Defense Minister Pavel Grachov.

Vagharshak Harutiunian revealed an interesting detail: “three days after the treaty conclusion Azerbaijan tried to deny its signature.”

Upon the request of Azeri FM Mamedraf Mamedov a sitting was convened with the participation of the Armenian and Azeri FMs and NKR representative Bako Sahakian.

During the sitting the Azeri side noticed that no reference was made to the surrender of the liberated territories and said they couldn't conclude the treaty. Vagharshak Harutiunian said in reply that all issues connected with territories and status were to be discussed through negotiations of a different format.

But for the RF Defense Minister's interference the Azeri side wouldn't sign the treaty. The Russian DM refused intervention in case the sides didn't sign the treaty.