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Thanks to its own diplomatic efforts and Armenian Diaspora, Nagorno Karabakh Republic is gradually becoming a part of the International Community, the article posted on the website Foreignpolicy.ru reads.

Despite its non-recognized status, Nagorno Karabakh Republic maintains all the attributes of a state, set by the 1933 Montevideo Convention – permanent population, certain territory, its own government, ability to step into relations with other states. The last point is a subject of large discussions; however, it is applicable for NKR, too, if it is about the ability to form diplomatic relations rather than actually forming them, the article reads. 

The author notes that Nagorno Karabakh Republic carries out its own foreign policy. The Foreign Ministry of the country deals with the implementation of foreign policy. Since September 1991, the leadership of Nagorno Karabakh Republic has been holding bilateral negotiations with the high officials of other countries and international organizations that have visited the country. Applications to international organizations have been accepted. NKR has made use of mediation efforts of neighboring Iran. NKR took part in the negotiations in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group till 1997. NKR is also included into the negotiation process on the level of bilateral meetings with the permanent Co-Chairs of Minsk Group who visit Stepanakert alongside with Yerevan and Baku. OSCE also conducts a dialogue with Stepanakert, de facto recognizing its ability to get into diplomatic relations. 

''NKR has its permanent representations in Armenia, Russia, the US, France, Lebanon, Australia, Germany. These representations function as embassies. Alongside with the political function, the permanent representations contribute to attracting investments into NKR economy, contacts with the Armenian Diaspora, realization of humanitarian programs in Nagorno Karabakh. There are only certain de jure non-recognized and partially recognized states under the patronage of this or that great power that maintain that sort of diplomatic network. Yet NKR, without any influential international heavyweight lobbyist, conducts more active foreign policy than Kosovo, Northern Cyprus, Southern Ossetia and Abkhazia that are under patronage of such countries as the US, Turkey and Russia correspondingly,'' the article reads.

It is noted that the Armenian Diaspora represented through such organizations as the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), Co-ordination Council of Armenian organizations of France, etc., are an important diplomatic resource for NKR. The lobbying of NKR interests in this or that country is conducted through these organizations. Thanks to the Armenian Diaspora and despite its non-recognized status, NKR has 7 representations in the world today, including Russia, the US and France, countries that are UN Security Council permanent members, as well as OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Remarkably, the largest and most influential Armenian communities are concentrated in those 3 countries. The permanent representation of NKR in the US was established in Washington in 1997 with the support of AAA. The representation is registered by the Ministry of Justice of the US and represents the government and the people of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in all political, economic, humanitarian and cultural fields. The representation in Washington takes part in dialogues with US governmental structures, including Congress and Department of State. Thanks to the active lobbying activities, NKR has become the only non-recognized republic annually getting official financial aid through the US Congress.

It is also noteworthy that over the past 2 years 5 American states – Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Louisiana and California have adopted resolutions supporting the independence of NKR and called on Barack Obama and US Congress to recognize the right of self-determination of the Karabakh people, as well as the independence of Nagorno Karabakh Republic. However, unlike four of the above-mentioned states, the legislative act of the state California has a special significance. First, the Constitution of California does not presuppose strict restrictions in its international activities. The second peculiarity emerges from the political and economical objective factors. California is not only the biggest in population but also economically more developed state in the country. It should also be kept in mind that California is the main center of the innovative technologies in America. Given that the Parliament of California has officially recognized the independence of NKR, the Armenian lobby can legitimately achieve the support of the state authorities in developing bilateral economic relations. Particularly, given the specifics of the development of NKR, official Stepanakert needs innovative technologies in the field of agriculture.

“As for the political context, it is important to mention that California gives the most congressmen to the House of Representatives (53). The presence of the well-organized Diaspora in California makes the senators and congressmen of the state count with the Armenian factor in their professional activities. Thus, 45 out of 110 legislators included in the Congress Group on Armenian Affairs represent various districts of California. No surprise that the questions connected with Nagorno Karabakh are more actively lobbied at Capitol Hill by the Californian Congressmen Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Jim Costa, David Valadao, Henry Waxman, Gary Miller and Xavier Becerra. Moreover, the current president of the Group of Armenian Affairs is Edward Royce, the head of the House of Representatives Committee of International Affairs, Congressman from California 39th District,” the article reads.

The author pays attention to the fact that for many years the state of California has more than once accepted various politicians from Nagorno Karabakh Republic at the highest level. In their turn, the legislators from California have more frequently visited official Stepanakert. Meanwhile, the Californian Congressmen successively take part in various political elections in NKR as observers. Thanks to the Congressmen’s active lobbying, the Congress not only blocked appointing Matthew Bryza on the office of the ambassador to Azerbaijan, but also the military deals between Washington and Baku. Due to the efforts of the Congressmen Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman the gratuitous financial aid for Nagorno Karabakh through Department of State official programs was retained.

Another important NKR permanent representation is situated in Paris. France is one of the three Co-Chairs of Minsk Group; that is why the relations between NKR and France have a great significance for the conflict settlement. From the beginning of the military conflict France spoke out for the peaceful settlement. This became one of the reasons why the authorities of NKR decided to open a representation on its territory. Initially, Information Bureau on socio-political questions of NKR was created in 1988. Later, in December 2002, the bureau was renamed into Permanent representation of NKR to France. Besides the representation, there is Support to NKR association created in 1998 with the aim to raise awareness about Nagorno Karabakh among the French, assistance of information exchange in economic, social, political, cultural and humanitarian fields, as well as promotion of the idea of recognition of NKR by France. Currently the Association has 375 active members.

“The most significant events, where the Association has had direct or indirect participation, were the French MPs’ visits to Nagorno Karabakh. In 2010 and 2011 the Association organized the President of NKR Bako Sahakyan’s visit to France, as well as the president of National Assembly of NKR Ashot Ghulyan’s meeting with the French parliamentarians. The result of the activity of the organization was the creation of the Friendship Circle with Nagorno Karabakh by a group of politicians, MPs and senators of France on 19 March, 2013. Roland Blum, the first deputy mayor of Marseille, Jacques Remiller, the mayor of Vienne, Senators Sophie Zhuassen, Philippe Marini, Bernard Fournier, as well as former MPs Georges Colombier and Richard Malia are among the members of the Friendship Circle,” the article reads.

Also note that not long after The Friendship Circle with Nagorno Karabakh in France was created, during a plenary meeting of the Lithuanian Parliament in March 2013 a statement was made about creating a Group of inter-parliamentary relations with Nagorno Karabakh. Earlier a group of Lithuanian Seimas MPs had accepted a declaration about creating Friendship Group with Nagorno Karabakh. 12 MPs, including vice speaker of Seimas, Kyatas Komskis, are in the group. In response, Ashot Ghulyan, the speaker of the NKR National Assembly signed a directive about establishing a Group of Friendship with Lithuania.

The third Co-Chair state of OSCE Minsk Group is the Russian Federation. The largest Armenian Diaspora is in Russia. According to the 2010 population census it counts 1 million 182.4 thousand people. However, according to non-official data the number of the Armenians in Russia reaches 2-2.5 million people. A more influential Diaspora organization of Russia is Russian-Armenian Commonwealth headed by Yuri Navoyan. RAC organizes trips of various Russian delegations whose members have a serious authority in the socio-political area. Additionally, the organization carries out an active work with the media trying to deliver objective information concerning the political processes in NKR to the Russian public.

De facto statehood of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is based upon the totality of political, socio-economic and diplomatic resources. Thanks to its own diplomatic efforts and Armenian Diaspora, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is gradually becoming a part of the international community.