ArmInfo.The Republic of Arstakh has a future, and the Artsakh people living and creating in their homeland is a guarantee of their future, Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan told a press conference in Stepanakert, on January 18, as he commented on claims by a number of circles, including ones by Gerard Jirair Libaridian, History Professor at the University of Michigan, who stated Artsakh has no future.
"I disagree with the opinion that the Republic of Artsakh has no future. I have on many occasions stated my position - and to Mr Libaridian as well. I believe the Republic of Artsakh has a future and living and creating here, in our homeland, by effectively and consistently building up our statehood, is a guarantee of this future. This is a hard and rather long path, but I am sure it will produce results," Mr Beglaryan said. According to Mr Beglaryan, Mr Libaridian may not live to witness international recognition of Artsakh, but that moment will certainly come.
"I told Mr Libaridian that he might not live so long as to see the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh as he is well over 70 now. But I am sure that moment will come. Why do I believe that Mr Libaridian may not see it? Because it is not a matter of few years, but the process can take decades and will succeed if the Armenian people will be courageous and professional enough," Mr Beglaryan said. He also spoke of his meeting with Armenia's first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan and told reporters that the two did not discuss the aforementioned issues. They talked about Ter-Petrosyan's experience in negotiations conducted back in the 1990s as well as about his opinion on a number of issues, including humanitarian ones.
"I do not share Ter-Petrosyan's ideology, we have fundamental differences, and I have told about it," Mr Beglaryan said.
Gerard Jirair Libaridian, who was senior advisor to Armenia's first president Levon Ter-:Petrosyan, stated earlier that the highest status Nagorno-Karabakh can get is an autonomy.