DE FACTO NAGORNO-KARABAKH AUTHORITIES SEND LETTER

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000273

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PBTS OPDC AJ AM
SUBJECT: DE FACTO NAGORNO-KARABAKH AUTHORITIES SEND LETTER
TO DRL A/S STEWART ON NK CHARACTERIZATION IN THE HUMAN
RIGHTS REPORT


1. The Embassy received the following letter in English from
the "Foreign Minister" of the self-proclaimed
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" addressed to DRL A/S Stewart
regarding the latest State Department human rights report.


2. VERBATIM TEXT OF "NKR" LETTER (AS RECEIVED):


Dear Ambassador Stewart:
The people and the government of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic (NKR) appreciate and welcome the U.S. championship
in establishing true democratic principles throughout the
world. The people of Nagorno Karabakh share the ideas of
democracy and we remain determined to continue building a
strong democratic state for the benefit of all nations in the
region.
The annual Country Reports by your Bureau usually portray a
balanced approach to existing challenges in foreign
countries, objectively assessing main problems in relation to
human rights and democratic development. We consider these
reports to be reputable documents by the State Department,
which must contain well-grounded and objective information on
human rights situation in different parts of the world.
Unfortunately, your most recent, 2008 Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices, particularly in its parts concerning
Armenia and Azerbaijan, contains inaccurate information which
may lead to wrong and biased understanding of the essence, as
well as the cause and consequences of the Azerbaijan)NKR
conflict.
It is with profound disappointment that we noticed a
continued distortion of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. The
reports on Armenia and Azerbaijan, unfortunately, failed once
again to consider the whole complex of facts and
preconditions for the current situation in the region. The
one-sided language in the Human Rights report utterly
disregards the opinion and the will of the people residing in
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic itself - a people that were
subjected to aggression by Azerbaijan for trying to exercise
their right to live in freedom under the government of their
own choosing. We are convinced that the use of phrases like
"ethnic Armenian separatists" to describe the NKR people, who
sacrificed immensely for their freedom, as well as many other
unacceptable definitions and numbers are clearly the result
of Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian propaganda, and therefore must
be excluded from the report language since they undermine the
spirit and the goals of your Bureau's activity.
The formation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in 1991 was
conducted in full compliance with then-acting Soviet
legislation and norms of the international law, and was
called to rectify Joseph Stalin,s arbitrary decision to
place this ancient Armenian territory under Soviet
Azerbaijan's rule. Seven decades of Soviet Azerbaijan's
administrative rule resulted in sharp shift of the
demographic situation in Nagorno Karabakh, accompanied with
dozens of killings and oppression of the local Armenian
population. All this, along with the Azerbaijani manner of
dealing with any expression of the free will, prove the
righteousness of our decision, and also show the
impossibility of a peaceful co-existence of Azeris and
Armenians within a common administrative entity.
Since day one of its proclamation, the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic embarked on the path towards building an
independent, democratic state, which can guarantee its
citizens their rights and freedom. Several rounds of
elections on all levels, assessed by international observers
as free and transparent, as well as effective governance
within its borders make the NKR one of the very few viable
states in our part of the world where democratic processes
have become irreversible.
We highly appreciate the continued U.S. efforts as a co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group to facilitate finding a lasting and
just solution to the Nagorno Karabakh's conflict with
Azerbaijan. We realize that the settlement process is a very
difficult challenge, and thus have repeatedly affirmed our
readiness to work closely with international mediators
towards establishing peace and stability in the South
Caucasus.
For these reasons, we respectfully request that you review
the language and the essence of the official report of the
U.S. State Department where it relates to Nagorno Karabakh. A
balanced and objective report could promote the U.S.
mediation efforts and contribute to establishing confidence
among the conflicting sides.

Sincerely,
Georgy Petrossian, Minister
YOVANOVITCH