Artsakh NGOs demanding Armenia`s MFA publicly confirm the promotion of the rights of the Artsakh people as a foreign policy priority

ArmInfo. The Network of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the Protection of the Rights of  Armenians in Artsakh has urged  the Armenian Ministry of Foreign  Affairs to immediately reconsider its position and publicly confirm  that the issue of protecting the rights, security and return of the  Armenian population of Artsakh remain a priority of the Armenian  foreign policy, regardless of Azerbaijan's unilateral illegal  actions. This is noted  in a statement received by ArmInfo from the  Network of Civil Society Organizations for the Protection of the  Rights of Armenians in response to the statement by the Armenian MFA  that after the  decree on the dissolution of Nagorno-Karabakh, the  issue has been removed from the agenda.

"Such a position is unacceptable and contradicts both the vital  interests of the Armenian people and the fundamental principles of  international law and universal human rights standards," the Network  said in a statement.  As civil society representatives pointed out,  under international humanitarian law, the issue of protecting the  rights and returning the forcibly displaced population must remain on  the international agenda until its just resolution and cannot be  "removed from the agenda" merely because one  party to the conflict  has adopted a unilateral decree.

"According to international law, we note that presenting insufficient  diplomatic results as a legal reality is unacceptable. This means  denying the fundamental rights of the Armenian population of Artsakh  and legitimizing the violence committed by Azerbaijan. The Republic  of Armenia is obliged to protect the interests of Armenians,  including the Armenians of Artsakh, on international platforms. The  actual results indicate that the Armenians of Artsakh were left  without proper protection and were forced to leave their historical  homeland," the statement said.

In addition, it is noted that the "Decree on the Dissolution of  Nagorno-Karabakh" is illegal and unlawful. In this regard, the  statement explains that a document imposed by force and threats  cannot be considered a legal and internationally recognized legal  basis.  "According to the Law of the Republic of Artsakh "On  Normative Legal Acts", legal acts enter into force exclusively  from  the day following their official publication, unless another deadline  is set. It is noteworthy that this decree has not included as a legal  document in the single website for the publication of normative legal  acts (arlexsis.am) and has not been officially published," the  statement explains.

The Network of Civil Society Organizations demanded that the Armenian  Foreign Ministry, based on the provisions of the Constitution of the  Republic of Armenia and the fundamental principles of international  law, immediately reconsider its position and publicly confirm that  the issue of protecting the rights, security and return of the  Armenian population of Artsakh continues to be a priority of  Armenia's foreign policy. In addition, the NGO statement points out  the need to include the issue of forced displacement, ethnic  cleansing and return of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh  in the Armenia-Azerbaijani peace agreement negotiations  as an  integral component.  In its statement, the CSO Network also called on  the international community, the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE  and international organizations dealing human rights not to recognize  the results of ethnic cleansing and to demand that Azerbaijan respect  international law and ensure the safe and dignified return of the  Armenians of Artsakh to their homes under international guarantees,  monitoring and protection mechanisms.

"The life and future of the Armenians of Artsakh cannot become  concession points in interstate negotiations. We demand justice,  accountability and protection of the rights of our people in  accordance with the norms and principles of international law," the  CSO Network concluded.  The Network includes 11 NGOs: " Armenian   Lawyers Association," "Harmony", " Hadrut Deoccupation ", "Return to  Kashatagh", " Shushi Deoccupation", Artsakh Armenian NGOs "Kumayri",  "Return to Karvachar", "Krunk"  NGO for the Protection of Artsakh   Armenians rights, the "Askerantsy" Community Development Center, "Hay  Ka" Social, Security and Development NGOs and "Lusastkh" NGO.