INITIATIVE IN LITHUANIA AND HYSTERIA IN AZERBAIJAN
Tuesday, 12 March 2013 11:40
As you know, on February 26, a declaration on the establishment of a
Group of Friendship of the Republic of Lithuania and the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was adopted at the Lithuanian Parliament.
Frankly speaking, the event is quite significant regarding the foreign
policy steps of the NKR on the way to its international recognition.
Surely, we don’t intend to overestimate the significance of this event
and especially to fall into euphoria, anticipating the imminent de
jure recognition of the NKR independence. But, we should not either
underestimate it. This fact should be considered, first of all, in the
context of democratic development of our Republic, which, in its turn,
creates safe prerequisites for the further international recognition
of the NKR and its full-fledged integration into the community of
civilized nations.
Our newspaper have already reported about the conference at the
Lithuanian Parliament dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the
beginning of democratic movements in this Baltic Republic and in
Armenia, as well as of the national-liberation struggle of the
Armenians of Artsakh, in which NKR Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan
participated. The NKR Foreign Minister also had a meeting with members
of the new Parliamentary Friendship Group, calling the initiative of
its creation an impartial assessment of the achievements of the NKR
people on the way of building its independent statehood based on the
democratic principles. Surely, it is not a mere coincidence that for
the years of the NKR independence the first group of friendship with
Artsakh has been created just at the Parliament of Lithuania. If we
throw a retrospective look at the recent history, we can recall that
at the turn of 80s of the twentieth century, yet during the Soviet
Union, the organization “Sayudis” led the Lithuanians’ struggle
against the totalitarian Soviet regime and for the freedom and
independence of Lithuania. In other words, they can appreciate and
understand the democratic aspirations of peoples, including the
Karabakh people, for freedom and independence. And not only
understand, but also support, which was demonstrated by the initiative
of the Lithuanian parliamentarians.
Unfortunately, our, to say the least, opponent hasn’t demonstrated
such an understanding for already 25 years. Azerbaijan hasn’t
understood that it cannot turn back the process of establishment of
the NKR independent statehood. It cannot either stop the tendencies of
the international recognition of this independence.
A bright proof of such “non-understanding” is the hysterical and often
aggressive reaction to the pro-Karabakhian political actions
confirming the NKR existence as an entity of international law.
Following such actions, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan sends а
note of protest to the violator of the Azerbaijani calmness,
containing elements of threats and blackmail, which is accompanied by
“the ninth wave” of indignation also at the non-governmental level.
This took place last year, after the resolutions of the Parliaments of
the American states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as the
Legislative Council of the Australian state of New South Wales, which
recognized the right of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination and
democratic independence. This also took place after the visit to the
NKR of the Uruguayan parliamentary delegation headed by Chairman of
the House of Representatives Jorge Orrico, which caused a storm of
indignation in Azerbaijan.
Lithuania didn’t escape this fate, having obtained “its” diplomatic
note of protest. Noteworthy in this regard is the commentary by the
spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan: “Certain
political figures and circles take steps far from the objectivity and
fairness, which violates the fundamental principles of international
law”. According to him, such steps “can be regarded as pursuing
personal financial and political interests”. Agree, it’s funny to hear
the charges of violating the principles of international law from the
representative of a country, the policy of which on the Karabakh issue
is an obvious and cynical violation of this very law. The other thesis
– pursuit of personal financial interests – is no less funny on the
background of the recent scandals related to Azerbaijan’s bribery of
some European parliamentarians. In other words, official Baku, which
is accustomed to act with corrupt methods in the international arena,
cannot even admit that someone is able to follow the principles of
justice and morality, placing them above mercantile interests. We saw
it in the case of Lithuania.
We can safely state that the deputies of the Lithuanian Parliament,
following the example of their U.S. and Australian colleagues, have
noticed and appreciated the commitment of the NKR authorities and
people to the democratic principles of development of the Karabakh
society. Apparently, many people begin to understand that the NKR as
an independent political factor has the right to independent
statehood. Similar trends emerged the last year, and we hope they will
continue this year too. At least, the initiative of the Lithuanian
Parliament members, which became another step in the started process
of international recognition of the right of the people of Artsakh to
self-determination gives reason to hope for it.
Leonid MARTIROSSIAN
Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsakh newspaper
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