I want to welcome the initiative of The Armenian Weekly to dedicate this magazine issue to Artsakh, a stronghold of Armenian civilization and an inseparable part of our common Homeland. It is important to continue keeping Artsakh in our hearts and minds, to follow developments in and around the Nagorno Karabagh Republic (NKR), and to show to the entire world that the entire Armenian Nation remains involved in Artsakh’s life and invested in its freedom and prosperity.
This year, Artsakh, Armenia, and our compatriots in the Armenian Diaspora celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Artsakh liberation movement. In early 1988, following decades of discrimination and injustice in an oppressive Soviet system, Nagorno-Karabagh’s legislature requested restoration of the historical injustice by reunifying with Armenia. The reaction was as disproportionate as it was inhuman: A wave of anti-Armenian atrocities spread throughout then-Soviet Azerbaijan, which began a full-scale military campaign against the people of Karabagh. Our nation, however, through enormous sacrifice, has defended its freedom and laid the grounds for independent statehood.
Today, 25 years after that historic event, Artsakh is a free and democratic nation, with a vibrant civil society, a developing economy, an effective administration, and capable armed forces. The years that followed the declaration of independence are proof not only of the viability of Artsakh’s statehood, but of its ability to solve complex issues. We have, after all, succeeded in rehabilitating the economy from nearly nothing, in rebuilding our infrastructure from ruin, and establishing democratic institutions while consistently reinstating them, all in the face of extremely scarce resources, a blockade, and massive post-war destruction.
Free, fair, and competitive elections have become an inseparable part of NKR’s political culture. Since 1991, our republic has gone through five presidential elections, five parliamentary elections, and many local elections, all of which were assessed as free and transparent by international observers. Our political transitions have always been carried out in a legal and orderly manner.
All of this does not mean that we have achieved our goals; numerous problems still exist, and require consistent and tireless attention. Our young democracy still faces significant domestic and external challenges and threats. The political hotheads from our neighbor to the east, and their supporters, continue to ignore the reality on the ground, thus perpetuating the threat to our long-term regional stability. Nonetheless, over 25 years, Artsakhtsis have demonstrated the sustainability of their aspirations for sovereignty, and have proven that we are resolute in defending—and multiplying—our achievements in any realm. Four U.S. statesand various parliaments have recognized this fact, and support Artsakh’s independence.
We will continue to build a better and safer country that will protect the freedom and dignity of our heroic people. On our way to building a better and safer homeland, we have always felt the encouragement and support of our compatriots from throughout the world. We remain convinced that joint efforts by Artsakh, Armenia, and the Armenian Diaspora will lead us to further victories and achievements, at home and abroad.
Unity is the strength that saved our people from extermination. Unity remains the necessary component for our continued development as states and as a nation.
Robert Avetisyan has been the Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic to the United States since 2009. He graduated from the Artsakh State University in Stepanakert in 1999. Since then, Avetisyan has been working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic, serving in different positions of the Ministry’s analytical and political departments. Avetisyan is married with two children.
Robert Avetisyan
Latest posts by Robert Avetisyan (see all)
- Celebrating 25 Years of Free and Democratic Artsakh - September 13, 2013
A R T S A K H
I hate the expression Nagorno Karabakh as it is half Russian and half Azeri ! In order to show the whole world its Armenian land and always will be the name should be changed. Also we should as often as possible tell the world that we give up former Utik, where at least
50 % of the population was Armenian. In the future the West should
get absolutely familiar with Artsakh. As long as WE use the expression Karabakh the Tartars will not give up hope to get it back.