ArmInfo.If Armenia, the Armenian people, Artsakh ever forcibly or voluntarily renounce their inalienable right to self-determination and recognize the sovereignty of Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, then this will become a precedent in the world, which will receive a low and humiliating assessment. This is stated in the article by former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia (1998-2008) Vardan Oskanyan about the ongoing blockade of Artsakh and the steps taken to open the road.
The article circulated by Oskanian in the media draws attention to the fact that immediately after the end of the Cold War there were more than fifty movements in the world directly related to self-determination and/or national sovereignty. At the same time, the diplomat stated that even today this number fluctuates in this area.
"Some of these movements - East Timor, Eritrea, South Sudan, and partly Kosovo - have already decided in favor of self-determination, and the international community has recognized their independence. Several others, Quebec, Catalonia, Scotland, remained part of the mother countries, but their problem can be consider temporarily resolved in favor of self-determination, because this status is the will of these peoples through a referendum. In other words, these peoples have decided to remain in the mother countries by a referendum, even with a very small majority. The rest of the movements for self-determination remain frozen or are in a state of negotiations, " stressed the ex-Foreign Minister of Armenia.
The diplomat also stated that the Artsakh movement for self-determination has the strongest and most solid historical, legal and political foundations among more than four dozen popular movements for self-determination existing today in the world.
In this regard, he noted that historically the people of Artsakh lived and survived in this area for thousands of years.
"Furthermore, as of today, Artsakh is the most Armenian of the territories inhabited by Armenians of our two states. Throughout history, when Armenia was ruled by different peoples, Artsakh has always maintained at least a semi- independent status. Legally, the foundations of Artsakh's right to self-determination are simply invulnerable. The basic prerequisites for asserting the right to self-determination were fully respected both in the past and today," Oskanyan added.
According to him, the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh are not a minority within Azerbaijan, but a people living on their historical land, which was constantly subjected to atrocities by Azerbaijan, that is, all types of its rights were constantly violated.
"Finally, despite the fact that the people of Artsakh will never accept any status within Azerbaijan, Baku refuses to offer them even an autonomous status within Azerbaijan. This is precisely the violation of international law, under which any people will have the right to declare their secession or self-determination," the diplomat stressed.
At the same time, he recalled that from a political point of view, Artsakh has a history of more than three decades of negotiations, during which the international community at some point considered the free and unhindered expression of the will of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh as the best way to peacefully resolve the issue. Touching on what needs to be done today, Oskanyan expressed his conviction that we need to set ourselves two simple goals: to resist and avoid signing any document implying that Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, and at the same time consistently uphold the imperative of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination the focus of the international community.
The diplomat believes that the unfavorable situation created for the Armenian side as a result of the 44-day war should be countered by the above-mentioned and favorable historical, legal and political circumstances for us. "We are faced with the need to open the Lachin corridor. No one will solve our problems for us. Yes, effective diplomacy is needed to open the corridor, but the solution of this issue on earth should be our initiative. It should be the result of a joint, bold decision by the authorities of Armenia and Artsakh, and this is the problem, the solution of which through large concessions will be the beginning of even greater losses," he said. At the same time, Oskanyan believes that Yerevan should declare that the inhabitants of Artsakh are Armenians and it cannot be indifferent to their security problems. "Armenia must make it clear that the people of Artsakh will decide the fate of their status enshrined in the Madrid principles. And if the people of Artsakh continue to strive for self-determination, Armenia will make its political and diplomatic efforts to support them in this matter. This is the minimum what the Armenian authorities should do, it is pointless to expect more. The authorities abandoned Nagorno-Karabakh, allegedly for the sake of "saving" Armenia. This delusion is unacceptable. What I propose, at least, does not exclude or hinder initiatives aimed at the self-determination of the people of Artsakh," Oskanyan concluded.