Declaration on Nagorno Karabakh in PACE
A written declaration on the Nagorno Karabkah Republic was put into circulation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The declaration was drafted and submitted by Armenian parliamentarian, member of Heritage faction Zaruhi Postanjyan.
"Azerbaijan declared itself the successor of the Azerbaijani Republic that existed from 1918-1920. But Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) has never constituted a part of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and it was because of the Kemalist-Bolshevik ‘deal' that Artsakh became a part of Soviet Azerbaijan.
In 1991, the people of Karabakh voted ‘yes' to independence through a referendum that was observed and recognized by numerous international observers. But refusing to accept the Artsakh Armenians' lawful exercise of their right to self-determination, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack, which ended with the 1994 ceasefire.
Even though Azerbaijan still violates this ceasefire, Karabakh Armenians continue to peacefully build their democratic state and are guided by international norms and standards, one of the most important of which was the 2006 constitutional referendum.
Many international observers, experts and journalists followed this referendum and several subsequent presidential, parliamentary, local elections and certified them as democratic, free and fair. Dozens of political parties, media and NGOs function in Artsakh, and its market economy and national legislation meet international standards.
With its objective of building a democratic state, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is an established state, and deserves international recognition and membership in all international organizations," reads the document.
The document was signed by 29 PACE delegates.
