Artsakh Defense Army makes serious efforts to neutralize post-war  challenges

ArmInfo. Ensuring the proper security of the citizens of Artsakh in the post-war period faced new challenges. The Defense Army and other law enforcement agencies, with the support and guarantees of the peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation, had  done a remarkable job to neutralize these challenges. This is stated  in the annual address of Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan to the  NKR National Assembly.

Harutyunyan noted that work has already begun on reforming the  republic's security system, within the framework of which certain new  legislative and practical bases have already been formed to ensure  the necessary staffing and combat capability of the Armed Forces.

Speaking about the foreign policy of Artsakh, Harutyunyan noted that  during the war of 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the  Republic of Artsakh, with the support of its missions and Diaspora  organizations, launched a political and information campaign aimed at  promoting the idea of recognizing Artsakh through international law.  Artsakh appealed to the parliaments of more than 100 countries with  calls to recognize its independence and restrain the aggression of  Azerbaijan. Reports on the consequences of this aggression have been  submitted to various international bodies, including the UN, OSCE and  the Council of Europe.  "How effective this work was, how much it  will contribute to our future foreign policy is another question",  noted the head of the Republic.

Today, as the message states, Artsakh faces new challenges related to  the more aggressive foreign policy of Azerbaijan and Turkey, therefore  it is necessary to assess the steps taken in 2020 and intensify work  with our old and new friends and take steps in this direction.

After the cessation of hostilities on November 10, 2020, the main  efforts were made to resolve the issue of the return of prisoners of  war and other persons held in Azerbaijan, as well as to protect the  Armenian cultural heritage in the occupied territories. Many letters  have been sent to the UN Secretary General, the High Commissioner for  Human Rights, the Director General of UNESCO, as well as the  Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the High Commissioner  for Human Rights. Close cooperation with the ICRC mission continues.

The appeal notes that in order to effectively confront the new  regional, geopolitical realities and challenges associated with the  Azerbaijani-Turkish armed aggression against Artsakh and its  consequences, the Artsakh leadership considers the following foreign  policy goals a priority:

International recognition of the Republic of Artsakh; 

Assistance to the process of final, comprehensive settlement of the  Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk  Group co-chairs within the confines of its principles; 

Restoring the territorial integrity of the Republic of Artsakh,  ensuring the return of the internally displaced citizens of the  republic to their places of residence;

Ensuring a stable and safe environment for the life of the population  of the Republic of Artsakh, preserving and strengthening state  sovereignty; 

Deepening and strengthening ties with the Russian Federation;

De-isolation of Artsakh from international relations and programs.  Raising the level of international subjectivity of the republic; 

Protection of the interests of the Republic of Artsakh in influential  international structures; 

Maintenance and development of friendly, mutually beneficial  relations with different foreign countries at different levels;

 Assistance in resolving humanitarian issues, including the return of  prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijan, resolving the fate  of the missing persons, as well as protecting the Armenian cultural  and material heritage in the occupied territories; 

Creation of favorable external conditions for the economic,  socio-cultural development of Artsakh, ensuring the country's  economic security, raising the standard of living of the population,  strengthening the rule of law, democratic institutions of civil  society, protecting the realization of human rights and freedoms,  interests and dignity of Artsakh citizens abroad; Strengthening the  trinity of Armenia - Artsakh - Diaspora for the effective solution of  issues on the pan-Armenian agenda.