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ARTSAKH NEWSLETTER Vol. 5, no. 4 June-August, 2003 The ARTSAKH NEWSLETTER is a publication of the NKR Office in Washington, D.C., the official representation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States. 1. SITUATION
TENSE ON THE LINE OF CONTACT September 2nd is Nagorno Karabakh's Independence Day. Twelve years ago we, the people of Artsakh, expressed our determination to live in freedom. Subsequent events forced us to defend our rights also on the battlefield. We were victorious and now the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is developing a stable and democratic society, bolstered by a growing free-market economy. Congratulations to the people of Artsakh and to our friends around the world! 1. SITUATION TENSE ON THE LINE OF CONTACT Conditions on the Line of Contact heated up this summer as detachments of the Azerbaijani armed forces tried to redeploy closer to positions of the NKR Defense Army units along parts of the frontline. Beginning in late June several Azerbaijani reconnaissance groups attempted to cross into the territory held by the Nagorno Karabakh armed forces on the southeastern portion of the frontline, resulting in an exchange of fire. On June 26, one NKR Defense Army serviceman was wounded. In a similar development on July 14, one Azerbaijani serviceman was shot dead, while several others were wounded. The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWRP) said that several dozen Azeri soldiers were killed or missing. Azerbaijani news sources also reported that the local Azeri brigade commander was dismissed following these incidents. The Nagorno Karabakh Defense Ministry issued three separate statements on July 1, 7 and 14 condemning the cease-fire violations and warning the Azerbaijani side that any attempts to cross the Line of Contact would be met with decisive retaliatory actions by the NKR Defense Army. Representatives of the Stepanakert office of the Organizations of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were notified of the cease-fire violations. Truce violations were also reported along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, prompting Armenian and Azerbaijani Defense Ministers to meet and discuss the incidents. An OSCE monitoring session took place July 10 on the
Line of Contact where the latest cease-fire violations were registered.
A second monitoring took place August 12 in the northern portion of
the Line of Contact near the Omar Mountain pass. Both sessions reported
no incidents during their monitoring. 2. REMEMBERING MONTE MELKONIAN Ten years ago on June 12 the Armenian nation lost
one of its finest sons, the legendary hero of the Artsakh Liberation
War and the commander of the Martouni defense district Monte Melkonian
(Avo). In his writings, the California-born Melkonian justified his
decision to join the war by saying that "this homeland [Armenia]
belongs to me just as it belongs to any other Armenian and I am responsible
for the defense of this part of my homeland just as any other Armenian."
Monte's military talent shone on the battlefield as he instilled strict
discipline in the Martouni self-defense units leading them to one victory
after another. A brilliant commander, he demanded that his subordinates
respect Azerbaijani civilians and prisoners of war. He died as a true
patriot on the battlefield, defending the liberty of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh and the entire Armenian nation. The memory of National Hero
Monte Melkonian remains in our hearts and minds. 3. MARTAKERT LIBERATED 10 YEARS AGO On June 30 Nagorno Karabakh celebrated the tenth anniversary
of Martakert's liberation from an Azerbaijani year-long military occupation.
President Arkady Ghoukasian, who took part in the celebrations, said
in his address that the liberation of Martakert reaffirmed Nagorno Karabakh's
might and strength of spirit. "Despite the fact that only a couple
of kilometers separate Martakert from the frontline, I am convinced
that we can defend our borders and our homeland should the enemy attack.
I hope that the Azerbaijani side realizes this too," he said. Ghoukasian
further expressed his belief that the people of Azerbaijan do not want
war and it is the political leaders in Baku who call for the resumption
of hostilities. Stressing that today the NKR armed forces are much better
equipped and disciplined, Ghoukasian called their statements "meaningless."
4. NORTH-SOUTH HIGHWAY MOVES FORWARD: NEW NINE-MILE STRETCH COMPLETED The All-Armenian "Hayastan" Fund announced
that on July 16, a nine-mile Drakhtik-Shekher portion of the strategic
North-South highway, which includes Shekher Bridge, has been completed,
while the construction of another seven-mile Shekher-Sarushen stretch
is planned to begin soon. Another seventeen miles will be completed
this year, mainly in the southern direction: Stepanakert-Aygestan, Sarushen-Karmir
Shuka and Tsakuri-Hadrut. The highway is 105 miles long, about half
of which is already constructed. The Fund also announced that before
year's end, several fundraising events would take place around the world
in order to collect funds for the completion of the highway. For more
information please visit "Hayastan" Fund's website at http://www.himnadram.org. 5. FIFTY STEPANAKERT FAMILIES GET NEW APARTMENTS On July 12 a new multi-story residential building
was completed in Stepanakert. Fifty families, the majority of whom are
families of soldiers killed in the Artsakh Liberation War, received
apartments in the building at no cost. A committed friend of Artsakh,
Armenian-American philanthropist Mrs. Louise Simone Manoogian, who has
contributed significant funds for the post-war reconstruction of Stepanakert,
sponsored the construction of the apartment complex. A playground and
a tennis court are planned as part of the complex. 6. NKR CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY OF SUCCESSFUL DIPLOMACY July 23, 2003 marked the 10th anniversary of establishment of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's Foreign Ministry. The decision to that end was made during hot stages of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, when regional powers and international organizations stepped up their mediation efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement. It was established to better represent and defend the young republic's interests on the international arena. Today, the Foreign Ministry is a well-functioning government agency, whose responsibilities include military-political issues, peace negotiations, work with international organizations, contribution to economic development and strengthening of democracy. Nagorno Karabakh has established representations in Armenia, United States, France, Russia, the Middle East and Australia. They serve as de-facto embassies, acting as liaisons between Nagorno Karabakh and their host countries. The Foreign Ministry's 10th anniversary celebrations took place in Stepanakert July 29-31, 2003. As part of the celebration, a first-ever conference of the NKR Foreign Ministry senior staff and NKR Permanent Representatives abroad took place. A delegation of the Armenian Foreign Ministry headed by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian also took part in the conference. President Arkady Ghoukasian congratulated participants, noting that the creation of the Foreign Ministry signaled Nagorno Karabakh's determination to achieve formal international recognition of its de-facto independence, since the conduct of independent foreign policy is one of the basic attributes of statehood. "The foreign policy of Nagorno Karabakh Republic is aimed at defending the national interests of the people of Artsakh. We have never deviated from this goal in the past nor will we do so in the future. Thanks to the efforts of our diplomats, the international community increasingly realizes the incontestable fact that peace and stability in the South Caucasus can only be achieved by taking into consideration vital interests of the Nagorno Karabakh people," said Ghoukasian. In his speech NKR Foreign Minister Ashot Ghoulian said that the international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic would help further stability in the South Caucasus. He advocated direct negotiations with Azerbaijan and blamed Azerbaijan's rigidity for lack of progress in the peace talks. Ghoulian excluded the possibility of vertical subordination of Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan in any peace deal and advocated for a permanent land link with Armenia. Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian underscored in his speech that "Nagorno Karabakh is a successful de-facto independent state and the state-building processes here have already become irreversible. As it is impossible to turn back history, it is time to make the shift from de-facto independence to international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic". During the conference, Armenian and Nagorno Karabakh
diplomats discussed the current stage of the peace talks, information
policy and cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries and their
diplomatic representations abroad. On the conference's final day, Oskanian
and Ghoulian signed a renewed Protocol of Cooperation between the Ministries
of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. At the press conference
that followed, the Foreign Ministers said that the conference was an
opportunity for Armenian and Nagorno Karabakh diplomats to analyze the
work of the past 10 years together, exchange ideas and set priorities
for the future. 7. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF DELEGATION VISITS NAGORNO KARABAKH, MEETS SENIOR OFFICIALS Sponsored by the Armenian Assembly of America, a nine-member
congressional staff delegation visited Nagorno Karabakh on August 19
meeting with Prime-Minister Anoushavan Danielian and Foreign Minister
Ashot Ghoulian. Prime Minister Danielian thanked the United States Congress
for its humanitarian assistance to the people of Nagorno Karabakh provided
since 1998. Noting that the assistance has been critical in overcoming
the consequences of the devastating war with Azerbaijan and continues
to be important, he stressed that the country now needs assistance with
the development of its economic infrastructure. Foreign Minister Ghoulian
told members of the delegation that Nagorno Karabakh greatly appreciates
the role that the United States plays as a Co-Chair of the Organization
of Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk Group in trying
to find a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and maintaining
stability and peace in the South Caucasus. He presented NKR's position
on the conflict's settlement, stressing that no solution can be found
and implemented without participation of the Nagorno Karabakh authorities
in the peace talks. Ghoulian also described the republic's internal
political situation, the process of independent state building and implementing
democratic reforms. 8. GOVERNMENT REPORTS HIGHEST GDP GROWTH TO DATE The National Statistical Service reported on August
20 that in the first six month of the current year, Nagorno Karabakh's
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 12.7%. The unprecedented GDP growth
rate was attributed to increased industrial output and capital construction. * * * The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the public representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
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