Vardan Oskanyan: Opening of Lachin corridor should be result of  joint, bold decision of  authorities of Armenia and Artsakh

ArmInfo.If Armenia, the Armenian people, Artsakh ever forcibly or voluntarily renounce their inalienable right to self-determination and recognize the sovereignty  of Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, then this will become a  precedent in the world, which will receive a low and humiliating  assessment. This is stated in the article by  former Minister of  Foreign Affairs of Armenia (1998-2008) Vardan Oskanyan about the  ongoing blockade of Artsakh and the steps taken to open the road.

The article circulated by Oskanian in the media draws attention to  the fact that immediately after the end of the Cold War there were  more than fifty movements in the world directly related to  self-determination and/or national sovereignty. At the same time, the  diplomat stated that even today this number fluctuates in this area.

"Some of these movements - East Timor, Eritrea, South Sudan, and  partly Kosovo - have already decided in favor of self-determination,  and the international community has recognized their independence.  Several others, Quebec, Catalonia, Scotland, remained part of the  mother countries, but their problem can be consider temporarily  resolved in favor of self-determination, because this status is the  will of these peoples through a referendum. In other words, these  peoples have decided to remain in the mother countries by a  referendum, even with a very small majority. The rest of the  movements for self-determination remain frozen or are in a state of  negotiations, " stressed the ex-Foreign Minister of Armenia.

The diplomat also stated that the Artsakh movement for  self-determination has the strongest and most solid historical, legal  and political foundations among more than four dozen popular  movements for self-determination existing today in the world.

In this regard, he noted that historically the people of Artsakh  lived and survived in this area for thousands of years.

"Furthermore, as of today, Artsakh is the most Armenian of the  territories inhabited by Armenians of our two states.  Throughout  history, when Armenia was ruled by different peoples, Artsakh has  always maintained at least a semi- independent status. Legally, the  foundations of Artsakh's right to self-determination are simply  invulnerable. The basic prerequisites for asserting the right to  self-determination were fully respected both in the past and today,"  Oskanyan added.

According to him, the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh are not a  minority within Azerbaijan, but a people living on their historical  land, which was constantly subjected to atrocities by Azerbaijan,  that is, all types of its rights were constantly violated.

"Finally, despite the fact that the people of Artsakh will never  accept any status within Azerbaijan, Baku refuses to offer them even  an autonomous status within Azerbaijan. This is precisely the  violation of international law, under which any people will have the  right to declare their secession or self-determination," the diplomat  stressed.

At the same time, he recalled that from a political point of view,  Artsakh has a history of more than three decades of negotiations,  during which the international community at some point considered the  free and unhindered expression of the will of the people of  Nagorno-Karabakh as the best way to peacefully resolve the issue.   Touching on what needs to be done today, Oskanyan expressed his  conviction that we need to set ourselves two simple goals: to resist  and avoid signing any document implying that Nagorno-Karabakh is part  of Azerbaijan, and at the same time consistently uphold the  imperative of the right of the people of Artsakh to  self-determination the focus of the international community.  

The diplomat believes that the unfavorable situation created for the  Armenian side as a result of the 44-day war should be countered by  the above-mentioned and favorable historical, legal and political  circumstances for us.  "We are faced with the need to open the Lachin  corridor. No one will solve our problems for us. Yes, effective  diplomacy is needed to open the corridor, but the solution of this  issue on earth should be our initiative. It should be the result of a  joint, bold decision by the authorities of Armenia and Artsakh, and  this is the problem, the solution of which through large concessions  will be the beginning of even greater losses," he said.  At the same  time, Oskanyan believes that Yerevan should declare that the  inhabitants of Artsakh are Armenians and it cannot be indifferent to  their security problems.  "Armenia must make it clear that the people  of Artsakh will decide the fate of their status enshrined in the  Madrid principles. And if the people of Artsakh continue to strive  for self-determination, Armenia will make its political and  diplomatic efforts to support them in this matter. This is the  minimum what the Armenian authorities should do, it is pointless to  expect more. The authorities abandoned Nagorno-Karabakh, allegedly  for the sake of "saving" Armenia.  This delusion is unacceptable.   What I propose, at least, does not exclude or hinder initiatives  aimed at the self-determination of the people of Artsakh," Oskanyan  concluded.