If rival attacks Karabakh again, it'll be patriotic war: Karabakh President

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS: It is mainly the Armenia-Karabakh-Diaspora trinity, which safeguards achievements and development of Karabakh and its continuous strengthening is considered to be one of the main pillars of state-building in Stepanakert. In an exclusive interview to Armenpress News Agency, the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan reflected on the country’s achievements and the issues, which have not been solved yet, as well as gave a diplomatic response to those suffering from military rhetoric.

- Mr. President, if we are to sum up 2013, which are those issues, which the state managed to solve and what issues still remain unrealized?

- While talking about the country’s vital activity, I would like to view it in three main areas – socio-economic, foreign, and military-political. In the respect of the socio-economic development, generally speaking, 2013 was a positive year. We have recorded a growth in almost all the spheres of economy. The GDP was increased by over 9 percent in comparison with the previous year. We managed to maintain the annual GDP growth on the threshold of 9-10 percent, which is a quite good rate.

As to our achievements and problems in the foreign policy, I would like to talk about the process of regulation of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, Karabakh’s international recognition, and the development of bilateral relations.

There were no substantial changes in regard of the conflict settlement during the previous year, we don’t have expectations from 2014 as well. This assessment is conditioned by the destructive, terrorist, and anti-Armenian policy adopted by official Baku.

In the respect of the international recognition of the Karabakh Republic, it’s noteworthy that 2013 was a very efficient year in this regard. The states of Maine and Louisiana of the U.S. recognized the independence of the Artsakh Republic. Fresno, Los Angeles, and Highland have also recognized Karabakh’s independence. We’ll work over expanding the geography of the subjects recognizing the Artsakh Republic in the coming years as well.

Our greatest achievement in the military-political area is the maintenance of stability and peace in the region and security of the Artsakh Republic. The Defense Army of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic plays a central role in this respect. It efficiently realized its goals. Army-building was, is and will be among the most important directions of the republic’s vital activity. The stronger the army, the stronger and prouder will be our country and people. Due to this the international recognition will become easier to reach and we’ll be able to take our place among the civilized peoples of the world.

- What the stress will be put on this year and the solution of which issues is urgent?

- I have already referred to the principal directions of our activity. They will be urgent in 2014 as well. At the same time, I would like to mention that the state is a system, the components of which are closely connected with each other. Consequently, we will continue providing a comprehensive approach to the solution of the problems of the Republic.

We are well aware that all our successes are connected, in the first place, with the defensiveness and security of the Artsakh Republic and it is natural that we will pay a special attention to that issue, as always.

- What are the prior sectors of the economic development of the state – agriculture, tourism, mining industry – and what are the prerequisites for the development of these areas?

- We have favorable conditions for the development of agriculture, mining, energy and other sectors. We intend to implement different programs in these sectors. Concerning the tourism, it was considered to be one of the most strategic directions of the social-economic agenda of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. For the development of this sector we have all the necessary conditions. Tourism is also considered to be one of the means to make the Republic recognizable to the world and to expand the ties with other nations and states, which fosters the process of making the Artsakh Republic recognized by the international community. It is also important that the creation of the corresponding substructures for the development of tourism brings to the opening of new working places.

- Talking about the future of Artsakh, it is impossible to avoid the resettlement issue and the demographic growth. In this connection, which is the state’s clear position and what successes have you reached in this area?

- The improvement of the demographic situation has strategic importance for us and determined work has been carried out in this direction, resulting in positive changes. Thus, in 2013 the population of theRepublic made 146,600 people, increasing by 3,000 in comparison with 2010 and by 6,700 in 2008.

The improvement of the demographic situation is implemented in two main directions - promoting fertility and resettlement programs. Fertility fostering direction is realized by a variety of promotional programs, focusing on each child's financial support for the family.Thus, the state provides a lump-sum of 100,000 drams for the first child born to the family, 200,000 – to the second child and 500,000 drams to the third one. For the fourth child and for the next ones the sum makes 700,000 drams.

Concerning the resettlement issue, here also we have positive changes. Recently about 800 families have been resettled in Artsakh, a greater percent of which are children.

- Mr. Sahakyan, the biggest challenge of Artsakh is the security of the country. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, how do you evaluate the level of the preparedness of the Defense Army?

- The Defense Army of Karabakh, as I have already stated, implements its tasks effectively and honorably. The bright proves of that is the peace and stability maintained in our region, the main guarantors of which is the Defense Army. Our Armed Forces are able to protect the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and provide for the security of our people from any encroachment.

- Mr. President, according to many military experts, Azerbaijan will not start a war but will try to make a blitz attack, leaving severe consequences. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as well has made such a statement recently. How justified are these statements and how prepared is our Defense Army for this kind of attacks?

- I should mention that this scenario is impossible for some reasons. First of all, we have a strong security system, which is able to prevent any kind of attack and make large-scale response actions.And secondly, if the rival attacks Artsakh, it will be a patriotic war, which the entire Artsakh and all the Armenians will take part in. In this case it is not impossible to implement a blitz attack.

- During the last two years the Nagorno Karabakh has been recognized by many cities and states of some countries and the parliamentary ties with different countries have become closer. Do these facts foster the international recognition of Artsakh?

- It is natural that it fosters the international recognition of Karabakh, as well as it proves that Artsakh is an established democratic republic, the existence and the development of the ties with which is important from the political, economic and moral points of view. It also promotes the establishment and expansion of the bilateral relations with different countries, as well as strengthens the Armenia-Karabakh-Diaspora trinity.

- The settlement of the Karabakh conflict goes in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and Stepanakert is not involved into the process as a negotiation party. Is not it an obstacle for the right process of the negotiations and is it justified that a decision should be made for Artsakh without asking for the Karabakh people’s viewpoint?

- It is obvious that without the full participation of the official Stepanakert in all the stages of negotiations it would be impossible to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict. We will be consistent in the works implemented to restore the full format in the negotiations, expanding activities in all the interested instances.

- May the year of 2014 promise new developments of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, taking into account the meetings of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the forthcoming meeting of the Presidents of the two countries?

- The only obstacle for the comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict is anti-constructive and terrorist policy of the official Baku and its state-building vision based on the hatred towards the Armenians. Until Azerbaijan reviews its policy, it is impossible to expect for the final settlement of the conflict. In the current situation we do everything possible in the direction of the establishment of peace and stability in the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict zone, assisted by the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan