Last week NKR celebrated 20th anniversary of independence. The independence of the second Armenian Republic is not yet recognized by the international community. Probably, the world still needs some time to do it. It is definitely obvious for everybody that the people in Karabakh will never abandon their choice. Nevertheless, they will never do it of their own free will. And threat of force will not scare them. People in Karabakh have already given an adequate answer and gained the present de-facto status of an independent state. In comparison to other unrecognized, partially or even entirely recognized states of the Soviet Union NKR is de-facto established itself, although there are many problems. We talked to Ashot Ghulyan about the problems, achievements and challenges that our government faces nowadays.
– According to you, which are the most significant achievements of NKR during the last 20 years?
– Restoration of statehood, declaration of independence, the legal implementation of the right to be the arbiter of its own destiny and the possibility to ensure the security of the state by own means.
– In talks on Karabakh issue the resolution which is under discussion nowadays intends to return the near-border territories of NKR to Azerbaijan, as well as return of refugees, presence of peacekeepers. How would you comment on these topics? To what extent is this plan realistic, to what extent is the population over there ready for, let’s say, the presence of peacekeepers?
– The priorities brought in this list may not become a resolution on Karabakh conflict. The main problem is the international recognition of NKR, which may make a path towards the discussion of other questions. I don’t think that it is acceptable for NKR to leave its security questions on peacekeepers. We are used to rely on own forces while solving problems.
– Would you like to predict who may acknowledge the independence of NKR and when it will happen?
– I won’t do any prediction, but I suppose that it is impossible to continually play on the patience of the Republic of Armenia and the mediators.
– May the acknowledgment of NKR become the reason for the collapse of Azerbaijan? Other national minorities of the state can also speak about autonomy.
– It is absolutely possible. But in other case Azerbaijan will collapse if it continues to impede the recognition of NKR. It doesn’t matter how the possibilities of this country are evaluated, there is no state which could forget the history or change it.
-There is an illusion that the most important challenge that NKR faces is the emigration of the population. Azeri propaganda always concentrates on the uninhabited lands. This very problem is sometimes spoken about in Armenian media. What is done to keep people here? Is it possible to implement the events which suppose to inhabit Armenians from so called unsafe countries to NKR?
– It is a delusive impression. If it is beneficial for somebody to show the situation in this light, it doesn’t yet mean that in reality the situation is so. It is another question that this process troubles us as well. However there is no emigration of population per si. Various projects are held, new ones are initiated. The most important is the fact that these people don’t consider themselves “immigrants”. They do feel as owners of the state. This right was gained by their blood and their large contribution to the statehood establishment and the social – economic development. What about mass resettlement, I do think that we may afford any mean for prosperity of motherland.