At the request of Hetq, Former Foreign Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Masis Mayilyan has kindly agreed to comment on the November 2nd tripartite Declaration signed in Moscow by the Presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding the Karabakh conflict settlement process.

- Mr. Mayilyan, what are your comments regarding this Declaration and how would you evaluate its significance?

- The agreed to Declaration can be viewed as a balanced document. The Russian mass media has already noted that it is the first such document to be signed by the Presidents of the conflict nations in the past 14 years. The clear difference is that previous documents were agreed to in a format of full value; with the participation of the NKR’s official representatives. What I find of positive value in the Declaration is the preservation of the OSCE Minsk Group’s status as mediator, the intent to seek a political settlement to the conflict. The implementation of concrete confidence building steps will show the extent to which the sides are prepared to “…facilitate improvement of the situation in the South Caucasus and establish stability and security in the region…” What is important is that we’ve received a certain possibility of a “time-out” and it is vital to effectively use the opportunity to mobilize the resources of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora with the aim of confronting and averting all potential scenarios of the conflict settlement that present a danger to our nation. It is just these issues, the defense of the territories, preserving our national identity and other similar questions, that require national unity and that each component of the nation play its vital role.

- Mr. Mayilyan, what is your approach to the issue of the liberated territories and the possible stationing of international peacekeepers in the Karabakh settlement zone?

- I’ve had a position on these questions for quite some time and have publicly stated them more than once. Let me repeat them once again. Without doubt, the question of the territories is the most important element for our society in terms of the security of the people of Artsakh and for the implementation and defense of their right to exercise state independence. Official Baku frequently issues statements based on international recognition of the republic of Azerbaijan, employing the expression “internationally recognized border” whenever it wants to its benefit; something which doesn’t correspond to reality. It is important to note that in international law the recognition of a state doesn’t automatically signify the recognition of the borders that the state in question has declared for itself. International experience shows that border delineation between neighboring countries can only occur only is the countries mutually recognize each others state independence. If international recognition as to the parties’ legal entity status and national independence is lacking any attempt to resolve territorial border delineation issues is not based on legal norms. I believe that what will be discussed will not be the clarification of the borders of the territories but rather the clarification of the borders between the NKR and the Republic of Azerbaijan. As regards to questions of delineation of the de-facto borders existing between the NKR and Azerbaijan, the work of an intergovernmental committee can proceed only in the event that Azerbaijan recognizes the independence of Artsakh. During the border delineation process it is also necessary to proceed with the keeping the territorial realities as laid out in the NKR Constitution in mind, that the only standard for the NKR can be the imperative to safeguard the physical security of the citizens of Artsakh and the right to state independence. It is completely clear to me that our country cannot develop on its own and safeguard its strategic and foodstuff security within the enclave borders of former the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region; borders that were illegitimate from the start. In discussing the question of the territories and borders, we must always remember the fact that 15% of the territories on which the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was proclaimed remains under Azeri control.” Regarding the issue of the possible placement of international forces in the conflict zone designed to preserve the peace, I believe that the appearance of armed forces in the NKR, even if they arrive under the flag of the most authoritative of international organizations, will unavoidably lead to radical restrictions on our sovereignty. The fact that the sovereignty of the NKR hasn’t been recognized by the international community and that we aren’t represented in those structures might result in our country not being able to exercise any legally authorized levers on those powers. In such conditions the possible placement of peacekeeping forces alluded to in Point 3 of the November 2nd Declaration would fundamentally be in opposition to our national interests. We cannot afford to place restrictions on our national sovereignty by not receiving its comprehensive recognition.