Republic of Arstakh has a future - Artak Beglaryan

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.