"NAGORNO-KARABAKH: RISKING WAR" – REPORT NO. 187
AZG Armenian Daily
17/06/2008
Karabakh Issue
Reply to Report No. 187 on Nagorno-Karabakh
After the release of your November 14th, 2007 report "Nagorno
Karabakh: Risking War", a group of active and concerned
citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh gathered together at the initiative
of Nagorno-Karabakh Committee of "Helsinki Initiative-92", a
Stepanakert-based peace-building and human rights NGO, to discuss the
recommendations issued therein. Between early December and the present,
four work-meetings and numerous other exchanges on the subject of
those recommendations took place. These meetings and discussions have
led to the formulation of five basic principles of a grassroots model
for the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. NKC
"HI-92", in the interest of informing your future recommendations,
would now like to share the resulting document with you and your team.
1. The issue of highest most concern for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh
is security. We understand security as having two dimensions: The
first is physical security, which today is guaranteed by the buffer
zone of seven Azerbaijani territories surrounding NKR under Karabakh’s
military control. The second is civic security, i.e., the existence
and development of democratic institutions and protections of civil
and political rights in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
2. After security guarantees, the most important component of a
peace settlement is the codification of Karabakh’s final status as
an independent state- the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
3. Recognizing that neither Azerbaijan nor the international community
has expressed readiness to immediately accept the independent statehood
of Nagorno-Karabakh, we believe it is of utmost importance to institute
an official "interim" status for the purpose of guaranteeing rights
of Karabakh residents to civic security and development. The interim
period would be characterized by the following developments:
a. Agreement upon an interim governance structure for Nagorno-Karabakh;
b. Bilateral communication between Karabakhians and Azerbaijanis on
the civil society level;
c. Karabakh’s participation in international projects and programs;
d. Karabakh’s integration into international organizations via
observer seats;
e. Karabakh’s direct participation in negotiations on the conflict’s
settlement.
4. A key component of the settlement process, both during and after
the interim period, will be the realization of the right of return
of refugees from both sides to the conflict and their integration
into society. To this day, discussion of the problem of refugees has
focused exclusively on Azeris from Karabakh or Armenia, with no serious
mention of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan. Respecting the right
of return of Azeri refugees, in calling upon protection of refugees’
right of return and when developing the concrete mechanisms that will
facilitate the return process, we insist that the Armenian refugees
from Azerbaijan (Baku, Sumgait, Shahoumian, etc.) be dealt with on
equal terms with Azeri refugees from Karabakh. A comprehensive and
fair solution to the refugee problem, consistent with the most basic
international human rights standards, will treat all individuals that
qualify as refugees or IDPs identically, independent of their national
identity or current location of residence. Finally, we believe that
a mutually acceptable and practicable resolution to the refugee
dilemma can be reached only through direct discussions between the
elected representatives of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh with the
participation of representatives of the two refugee communities. Only
if it is the product of a truly representative and participatory
process will we endorse or welcome any particular program of refugee
return. Whatever form the final agreement takes, the on-the-ground
reality must be one that would guarantee the physical security of
returnees
5. The final settlement of the problem of the buffer zone territories
must be the product of political compromise. In the meantime, we
recommend that the following steps be taken:
a. a mandate for an international peace-keeping force be agreed upon
and put into action;
b. a joint security council composed of Karabakh authorities and
a coalition of international forces be established with powers
of military oversight and temporary governance in the buffer zone
territories.
6. The final step in the peace process must be to establish permanent
governance structures in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the formation of which
all citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh, regardless of ethnic identity,
are able to participate.
Thank you in advance for giving due consideration to the needs and
interests of Nagorno-Karabakh citizens in your future publications as
you continue your important work in promoting the peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh Committee of Helsinki Initiative-92 (NKC HI-92),
10 June 2008