2024-08-02 12:58:47
The statement of the ARF Bureau regarding the process of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and the resulting agreement.
“Following the ongoing negotiation process between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, studying the statements of high-ranking officials of both countries, we record.
– in the process of agreeing on the discussed document, Azerbaijan seeks de jure to fix what it has achieved through the use of force and the threat of force, in terms of the annexation of Artsakh and the occupation of some territories of Armenia through ethnic cleansing carried out by genocidal acts, while maintaining the possibility of extracting other concessions from Armenia.
– in fact, Azerbaijan is trying to close the issue of Artsakh with such a document. Furthermore, threats to Armenia are increasing, the Republic of Armenia is not receiving any additional guarantees to ensure its security, territorial integrity, sovereignty and unblocking of transport routes, and effective mechanisms are not being created to prevent further hostile actions by Azerbaijan, including military aggression. :
Under the created conditions, taking into account the existing realities, the regulation of relations based on the protection of national-state interests should proceed at least according to the following principles
1. In order to create an atmosphere of trust, consider the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory of RA, as well as the return of all prisoners of war and detained persons, the solution of existing humanitarian problems and the preservation of cultural heritage as prerequisites.
2. In order to establish lasting peace, it is necessary for the given agreement to be a complete document for the regulation of relations, to respect the legal interests of the parties and to include solutions for the entire set of issues subject to agreement.
3. Any agreement should not endanger the inalienable and inalienable rights of the Armenian people. Vital concessions and losses should be excluded, clearly fixing our interests in accordance with the current RA constitutional and legal norms and diplomatic practice.
4. The basis of demarcation and demarcation should be the actual borders in effect at the time of the accession of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the CIS (September 24, 1993). The demarcation and demarcation between the two countries should be in accordance with the best international practices and norms and should be based on the “UN Vienna Convention on the Law of International Treaties” (1969), the “Helsinki Final Act” (1975) and the OSCE Secretariat’s “Delimitation and Demarcation of State Borders, urgent issues and solutions” (2017) from the conceptual norms of the document, including the principle that any international agreement reached through the threat or use of force is null and void.
5. Complete and simultaneous unblocking of transport and other means of communication, without any restrictions on sovereignty.
6. Until the final political settlement of the Artsakh issue and the full realization of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh, ensure the collective, unimpeded and safe return of Artsakh Armenians to the homeland, based on full respect of the rights of the people subjected to repression and forced displacement as a result of ethnic cleansing.
A prerequisite for return should be observed.
– Provision of an intermediate status to Artsakh, ensuring full civil and political rights of Artsakh Armenians guaranteed by international norms,
– Providing effective security guarantees for the people of Artsakh, including the deployment of peacekeeping forces,
– Ensuring unhindered land connection with Armenia.
Any document signed without the observance of these principles will not contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region, but will validate the precedent of resolving issues by force or the threat of force.”
February 5, 2024