Written declaration No. 407 | Doc. 12507 | 27 January 2011

Building of a democratic state by the Republic of Mountainous Karabagh

Signatories: Ms Zaruhi POSTANJYAN, Armenia, EPP/CD ; Mr Artsruni AGHAJANYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Mr Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Denis BADRÉ, France, ALDE ; Mr Roland BLUM, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Lydie ERR, Luxembourg, SOC ; Ms Jana FISCHEROVÁ, Czech Republic, EDG ; Mr Stanislav FOŘT, Slovak Republic, ALDE ; Mr Bernard FOURNIER, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Gisèle GAUTIER, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Claude GREFF, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Davit HARUTYUNYAN, Armenia, EDG ; Mr Ferenc KALMÁR, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Ms Liana KANELLI, Greece, UEL ; Ms Dalia KUODYTĖ, Lithuania, ALDE ; Mr Arthur LOEPFE, Switzerland, EPP/CD ; Mr Theo MAISSEN, Switzerland, EPP/CD ; Mr Grigori MARGARYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Ms Muriel MARLAND-MILITELLO, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Armen MELIKYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Ms Hermine NAGHDALYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Mr Mikael OSCARSSON, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Peter PELLEGRINI, Slovak Republic, SOC ; Mr François ROCHEBLOINE, France, EPP/CD ; Mr René ROUQUET, France, SOC ; Mr Armen RUSTAMYAN, Armenia, SOC ; Mr Fiorenzo STOLFI, San Marino, SOC ; Ms Doris STUMP, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Naira ZOHRABYAN, Armenia, ALDE

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

Azerbaijan declared itself the successor of the Azerbaijani Republic that existed from 1918-1920. But Mountainous Karabagh (Artsakh) was never a part of that state, and it was because of the Kemalist-Bolshevik “deal” that Artsakh had become a part of Soviet Azerbaijan.

In 1991, the people of Karabagh voted “yes” to independence through a referendum that was observed and recognised by numerous international observers. But refusing to accept the Artsakh Armenians’ lawful exercise of their right of self-determination, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack which ended with the 1994 ceasefire.

Even though Azerbaijan still violates this ceasefire, Karabagh Armenians continue to peacefully build their democratic state and are guided by international norms and standards, one of the most important of which was the 2006 constitutional referendum. Many international observers, experts and journalists certified this referendum and several subsequent presidential, parliamentary and local elections as democratic, free and fair. Dozens of political parties, media and NGOs function in Artsakh, and its market economy and national legislation meet international standards.

With its objective of building a democratic state, the Mountainous Karabagh Republic is an established state, and deserves international recognition and membership in all international organisations.