ArmInfo. I believe that the resolution of the Karabakh issue depends on Artsakh. Head of the United Homeland Party , former Defense Minister, NKR hero Samvel Babayan stated in an interview with ArmInfo correspondent. In the upcoming presidential elections, Babayan supported the candidacy of Artsakh Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan.
"Artsakh will be able to sit at the negotiating table when we become more developed in the political, economic aspects and in the military sector. In the situation in which we are now, we will not be able to sit at the negotiating table. When we are strong, Azerbaijan reckons with us and sits at the negotiating table, as it was before, but our final goal is reunification with Armenia>, Babayan emphasized.
He emphasized that he hopes that the candidate who will be elected by the people will win the election. "Baku must understand that the strongest, the chosen one of the people won in Artsakh during the democratic elections. And these are the NKR people's chosen people, and not the proteges from Yerevan. As long as the proteges of Yerevan are in the leadership in Artsakh, Baku will continue to negotiate exclusively with Armenia>, the former Defense Minister noted.
The head of the party also noted that if his party gets a majority in parliament, they will first of all take up constitutional reforms. "We would like to develop our parliamentary cooperation with Armenia. We would like the MPs from Armenia to more actively represent Artsakh on international platforms as an independent entity, as a free democratic country. Of course, the MPs from Armenia raise this issue today, but we would like to so that this issue is raised more often, we should note that, by blocking the borders with Armenia and NKR, Azerbaijan committed a crime against humanity, "Babayan emphasized.
Babayan also touched upon the fact why he was unable to run for president of the NKR. "I believe that the fact that I was deregistered in the NKR was a thoughtful step against me. Some candidates realized that if I run for president, they will be defeated. We are all Armenian citizens, and if you want to participate in the elections, then you apply to be registered, but it always has been, but this time, they told me that before running for the post of Artsakh President, I should live in the NKR for 5 years. Thus, the authorities showed that they use the law to their advantage and purpose, "he said.
The latter also said that he decided to support Masis Mayilian in the upcoming elections, as the views of the NKR Foreign Minister coincide with the program of Babayan. "Firstly, I have known Masis Mayilyan since the 1990s, he was Deputy Foreign Minister, and I was the Minister of Defense. We conceived negotiations together, but that's not the point. It's just that Masis Mayilyan's views coincide with the party's program "United Homeland Party ," the NKR hero emphasized.
Babayan noted that his party intends to devote special attention to the socio-economic sector. At the same time, the hero of Artsakh noted that the legislative framework in Artsakh should be changed. He emphasized that the main goals of his program are to make laws more understandable for citizens of the country, to develop parliamentary relations with other countries, to ensure that laws do not contain controversial provisions, increase salaries and pensions for the country's population, and reduce gas and electricity prices in the NKR. Moreover, all war veterans will receive benefits.
Babayan also emphasized that he would like the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to take responsibility for what is happening at the border. "As you know, the OSCE Minsk Group has three co-chairs. They can decide among themselves who will bear the mandate of responsibility for what is happening on the border in the NKR. After all, when Azerbaijan shoots in the direction of the border, the Minsk group only calls on the parties to peace. One of the co-chairs or all at once can take responsibility, so that people in NKR can sleep peacefully and not be afraid of war, so that people in border villages can build their houses and not be afraid of anything. After all, it is the co-chairs who are responsible for maintaining peace and tabulations in the region. This is our goal, "he said.
In conclusion, Samvel Babayan expressed the hope that on March 31, citizens will go to the polls and choose a legitimate authority that will appeal to all citizens. "Any decision of the people of Artsakh will be acceptable to me," the hero of Artsakh concluded.
It should be noted that on March 31 presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in Artsakh. NKR hero Samvel Babayan intended to run for president, however, as it turned out, he was deregistered in Artsakh and has been deprived of Artsakh citizenship since 2006. Consequently, the latter could not take part in the presidential election, however, Babayan's "United Homeland Party will take part in the parliamentary elections in the NKR.