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 “Azerbaijan declared itself the successor of the Azerbaijani Republic that existed from 1918-1920. But Mountainous Karabakh (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,” says the document adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

“Heritage” faction press service reports that PACE delegate Deputy Zaruhi Postanjyan drafted and submitted the document to the Assembly which has adopted a declaration at its winter session confirming that Nagorno-Karabakh has never constituted a part of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the source thirty delegates have signed the declaration, including Armenian delegation.
In 1991 people of Nagorno Karabakh voted ‘yes’ to independence through a referendum. The referendum was observed and recognized by numerous international observers. Refusing to accept the Artsakh Armenians’ lawful exercise of their right to self-determination, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack, which ended with the 1994 ceasefire.

Even though Azerbaijan still violates this ceasefire, Karabakh 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 Karabakh Republic is an established state, and deserves international recognition and membership in all international organizations,” the statement concludes.