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Azerbaijan constantly violates the ceasefire agreement, the situation is getting more and more dangerous, and heavier weapons are being used, which certainly tells on the situation making it increasingly concerning, the president of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Bako Sahakyan, told the Lithuanian journalist Indre Vainalaviciute. The interview is published in the website lrytas.lt.

Bako Sahakyan said that despite being an unrecognized state, meetings with MPs and representatives of non-government sector, analytics and scientists are taking place abroad. “We are trying to develop relations with the other countries, and that process is actively underway. We have already established relations in such spheres as human resources, economics, education or sport with many countries. However, we still do not have the chance to meet the leaders of those countries directly,” he said and added that everything possible is done for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to be recognized as a state by the international community.

When asked which are the countries the NKR is maintaining active relations with, the president said that especially active ties are upheld with France and there are many agreement with it. In addition, there are groups working in the German and French parliaments responsible for supporting ties with the NKR. Those partners are very important for developing ties with other countries.

As the non-official meetings with state leaders regard, the NKR president said that the status of “recognition” or “non-recognition” should not become an obstacle in the development of ties between communities on non-political level. The NKR tries to establish relations with other states and their leaders, especially now, when the republic is on the stage of its formation and is trying to comply with the norms of the international law and other rules. “Our country deserves having a communication with the international community and becoming a part of it,” the president noted.

He also spoke about the escalations on the line of contact of Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan. Bako Sahakyan stressed that “peace is one of our main virtues and goals” and Artsakh conforms to the conditions provided in the agreement Armenia, the NKR and Azerbaijan signed in 1994.

“We do not want that certain moments of our past repeat. To that end, we are trying to keep the situation as stable as possible. However, the adversary side continuously violates the provisions of the ceasefire agreement constantly shooting at us from heavy weapons. There is a significant difference between what was going on two or three years ago and today,” the president highlighted. “Azerbaijan not only violates the ceasefire agreement it signed but also the international norms and rules. That country is responsible for what is going on as it is conducting an aggressive policy, and the international community should pay attention to the situation.”

The president Sahakyan also highlighted the role of the international community, whose efforts, even though partially, pertain stability in the region and focus attention to Azerbaijan’s deconstructive policy, which categorically denies the offers of the Armenian side to contribute to the peace process. In particular, this refers to such provisions as removal of the snipers from the line of contact or complete ceasefire on holidays. “The only thing we want is that the international community speak and react more concretely. The situation will see changes only when the words are directed to the certain addressee, in this case, to the side responsible for the peace process violation,” Sahakyan pointed out.

According to the NKR president, Azerbaijan constantly violates the ceasefire agreement, the situation is getting more and more dangerous, and heavier weapons are being used, which certainly tells on the situation making it increasingly concerning.

Meanwhile, Sahakyan hopes that new politicians will appear on the political arena in Azerbaijan, who will have another vision of the situation and they will change their preferences. “After all, the Azerbaijani people can also wish for a peaceful and civilized termination of the conflict. We hope that the day will come and we will sit around the table of civilized dialogue and discussions,” the president said.

Vainalaviciute, the journalist, also highlighted the peaceful life in Artsakh today and wondered what perspectives of development the capital of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has. President Sahakyan answered that the region and the capital develop very rapidly, and evident changes will be noticed even when the journalist revisits it in a year. “We try to provide the best possible conditions not only for the locals, but also so that the guests from other countries feel comfortable here. We are very concerned with the development of the region. We believe in a bright future for us and our children,” Sahakyan said. The changes are really significant, and they can be seen in many spheres but the biggest problems and challenges are connected with security, he added.

The journalist also asked whether it is true that the people can go up to the president right in the street and speak to him about issues they are concerned with. Sahakyan noted that it is not something unusual. On the contrary, it is a very successful method to meet and communicate with the people. “Such meetings help me have a clearer picture of how our institutions work and what problems people are facing. Such conversations become a stupendous stimulus to work as good as possible,” he confessed.

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