Karabakh reaffirms commitment to peaceful resolution

"A peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on international principle of rights to self determination is an urgent necessity in the new state of negotiations, which commenced following the appointment of the Russian, US and French co-chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk Group," declared an announcement issued by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Foreign Ministry on March 25, 1997.

"Currently, any ill-considered and hasty proposals based by mediators based on announcements made at the December 1996 OSCE Lisbon Summit, suggesting a resolution of the conflict with predetermined circumstances in the status of Karabakh, can have an extremely negative impact on the posturing of the sides to the conflict. The toughening of positions by the sides to the conflict on the eve of negotiations in Moscow was caused by a statement of the OSCE Chairman in Office," the statement continued.

The Karabakh foreign ministry statement also revealed that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic National Assembly, based on that country's presidential law, had accepted the resignation of former Nagorno-Karabakh Republic president Robert Kocharian who, last week, was appointed Armenia's prime minister.

In accordance to the same law, the announcement stated that the Karabakh prime minister Leonard Petrossian had assumed the presidential responsibilities.

In conclusion, the government of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the cease-fire and continuing to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic "calls on all interested sides to accelerate efforts in finding stable and long-term solution to the conflict based on mutual compromises.

ARF hosts Karabakh Foreign Minister's visit to Greece

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Arkady Ghukassian arrived in Athens, Greece on Friday, March 14, 1997, where, upon the invitation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Armenian National Committee of Greece, he met with the local Armenian communities and Greek political figures.

Ghukassian was accompanied by deputy Karabakh representative in Armenia Nayira Melkoumian.

In his public remarks Ghukassian pointed out that the evolution of the Karabakh conflict could be categorized in three phases, the first of which was the "romantic" phase when "we thought that the Karabakh question would be resolved in Moscow."

He stated that in this regard, demonstrations, rallies and meetings were organized to demand the just rights of the people of Karabakh, but instead this phase ended with the brutal genocide in Sumgait and the massacres in Baku.

The emphasized Karabakh's organization as a self-defense force as the most important phase of the Karabakh question, since following the Soviet breakup, Karabakh faced war and was left alone to defend itself.

Ghukassian explained that after Karabakh organized itself and its self-defense mechanism and was able to emerge victorious in the military offensives launched against Karabakh by Azerbaijan.

It was through the organized military structure which "we forced Azerbaijan to sign the cease-fire agreement," Ghukassian said.

The foreign minister categorized the current phase as the third one, where the Karabakh question has become a political issue and its legitimacy is a topic of discussion within international forums such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is currently the main mediator of peace talks.

In his remarks, Ghukassian also referred to the recent OSCE Lisbon summit, during which a resolution was almost adopted which would maintain Karabakh within Azeri borders in an effort to not violate Azeri sovereignty.

He rejected this proposal set forth by Swiss Foreign Minister Flavio Cotti, saying that any agreement on conflict resolution must emerge from talks and dialogue.

Ghukassian warned of Azerbaijan's latest attempts of resolving the conflict militarily, by pointing to Azeri troop activity on Karabakh borders and the national security zone established by the Nagorno-Karabakh self-defense forces.

He explained that Karabakh is now a de-facto independent state, and the period of cease fire has and would be utilized to enhance the republic's socio-economic capabilities, and called on the Diaspora to assist in this rebuilding process, ensuring a future for Karabakh.

Pogroms by Azeris commemorated

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issued an announcement on Tuesday, February 15, 1997, on the upcoming ninth anniversary of the brutal pogroms perpetrated by the Azeri OMON forces. Below is a translated text of that announcement:

The massacre of Armenians of Sumgait perpetrated on February 28, 1988, a manifestation of the Azeri government's anti-Armenian policy, represents one of the most horrific chapters of 20th century history.

From 1918-1920, during the period prior to sovietization, Azerbaijan carried out a policy of annihilation of Armenians and other groups in an attempt to rid the region of it indigenous population and repopulate it with Azeris and Turks. Seventy years later, the brutal massacres and pogroms in Sumgait were the continuation of that policy, which soon spread to Gyandza, Baku, Shahumian and Getashen.

In response to this brutality, the people of Karabakh declared their independence, in accordance with the Soviet Constitution and within all legal norms. The declaration of

independence was the only option available to the Armenians of Karabakh threatened with mass deportation and annihilation. The government of Azerbaijan continued to pursue it genocidal policy by launching a massive offensive against the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from 1991-1994, once again demonstrating that a perpetrator of genocide cannot be a guarantor of peace.

The decisions adopted by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international mediating groups regarding the resolution of the Karabakh conflict are, thereby, unacceptable.

The proposed document regarding the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict, drafted in accordance to European standards and accepted by highly civilized countries, will not only not guarantee peace, but will bring about regional instability, jeopardizing the fragile economic cooperation in place.

The ARF Central Committee of Artsakh, by drawing attention to the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks and the 1918-1920 and 1988-1994 brutal massacres and pogroms against the indigenous population of Karabakh by Azerbaijan in an attempt to deprive the Armenian people of the right to self-determination, pledges to struggle to secure reparations for the injustices committed.

ARF Central Committee Of Artsakh
February 25, 1997
Stepankert

Artur Mkrtchian remembered on birthday

The birthday of late Artur Mkrtchian, the first president of Nagorno-Karabakh who met a tragic death four years ago, was marked in Stepanakert in a solemn ceremony at his gravesite on Sunday, February 16, 1997.

Members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Artsakh, ARF Bureau field worker Serj Amirkhanian, Mkrtchian's parents, widow, children and friends lay wreaths at his gravesite.