Friday, March 22 2019 12:41

ArmInfo.The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) today reaffirmed its principled opposition to the "Madrid Principles," a deeply flawed and recklessly  asymmetrical proposal advanced by the OSCE Minsk Group regarding  Artsakh's status and security.

So, according to the ANCA report, received by ArmInfo, the ANCA  supports the OSCE Minsk Group negotiations as a constructive platform  for continued talks but rejects its current proposal (known as the  "Madrid Principles") as a deeply flawed and ultimately  counter-productive plan that sets back the cause of peace and raises  the risks of renewed war.

According to ANCA the Madrid Principles are profoundly asymmetrical,  demanding upfront, strategic, and irrevocable concessions of land and  security from Artsakh in return for only vague, deferred, and  reversible promises regarding status from Azerbaijan. The phasing of  the Madrid Principles front-loads all the risk on Artsakh and all the  rewards on Azerbaijan. This flawed formula will not lead to peace,  but, rather, sets the stage for continued conflict and regional  instability. The Madrid Principles would force Artsakh, a  predominantly Christian nation, under a violent Azerbaijani regime  that has recruited extremists (including Afghanistan Mujahideen and  ISIS militants from Syria) to fight its anti-Armenian war. Azerbaijan  has, over the past 25-years, consistently violated its obligations  under its 1994 tripartite cease-fire agreement with Armenia and  Artsakh, calling into serious question whether its current or future  leadership would, in actual practice, respect Baku's commitments  under a Madrid Principles-based peace plan. The Madrid Principles run  counter to our core American belief in democratic self-  determination. A democratic and durable settlement should be based on  the right of free citizens to live under a government of their own  choosing. The Madrid Principles do not address or even acknowledge  Azerbaijan's occupation of Ardzvashen (Republic of Armenia) and parts  or all of Shahumyan, Martakert, and Martuni (Republic of Artsakh).   There is no basis - in the context of Armenian history, Azerbaijan's  stated policy, democratic principles, international law, or  conflict-resolution precedent - to believe that :Artsakh surrendering  vast areas of its sovereign territory will somehow make Artsakh more  secure or Azerbaijan less aggressive. Artsakh making upfront  strategic land concessions will be followed by Azerbaijan forfeiting  its claim of sovereignty over Artsakh. International peace-keepers  deployed around Artsakh would actually prevent or even discourage  renewed Azerbaijani attacks.  The free citizens of the independent  Artsakh Republic, having built a thriving democracy following decades  of Soviet rule and Azerbaijani aggression, deserve the same  democratic freedoms and human rights that we cherish as Americans.   Artsakh is, at its heart, a very American story, representing the  victory of a free people over foreign rule.  The citizens of the  Republic of Artsakh, through their democratically elected government,  are entitled to make decisions regarding their destiny, including  through Artsakh's full return to any and all international talks  regarding status and security issues.  Artsakh - a democratic,  Christian, pro-Western republic, standing strong against the forces  of intolerance, deserves strong American support.

They also encourage the United States to exercise continued  leadership in the OSCE Minsk Group and encourage all parties to: Set  aside the failed Madrid Principles and abandon this deeply-flawed  phased and asymmetrical approach to conflict resolution,Develop a  new, democracy and self-determination driven approach that addresses  - on a horizontal basis and in a package-based format - outstanding  status and security issues between the republics of Artsakh and  Azerbaijan, and Join with Armenia in demanding the full restoration  of the Republic of Artsakh's participation in all peace talks,  negotiations, and decision-making regarding its future.