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Artsakh Newsletter/ March 1-15, 2012March 1-15, 2012For Immediate Release ~ March 15, 2012 Contact: Press Service of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's Office in the USA Artsakh Newsletter summarizes key developments in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, and is prepared by the NKR Office in the United States. SECURITY & POLITICS Azerbaijan continues violating the cease-fire on the Line of Contact. In recent days, Sgt. Sevak Aslikyan and Maj. Artak Shahbazian, both serving on Armenia’s northeastern border, died from sniper fire. More details at: http://news.am/eng/news/96626.html Intensive accumulation of weapons in the region does not facilitate a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, stated Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha. Read more at: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/98279/CSTO_chief_Azeri_arms_race_wont_benefit_Karabakh_settlement U.S. State Department ruled out a military solution of the Karabakh conflict urging the sides “to prepare their populations for peace, not war, and to refrain from any provocative rhetoric or actions on the ground.” See full comment at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/03/185830.htm Armenia has withdrawn its participation from the 2012 Eurovision contest in Baku citing the aggressive policy of Azerbaijan against Armenia and Artsakh. Read more at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9704000/9704516.stm or http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iFNKYsdtrliHzpHPfT7Dha0lMumw?docId=CNG.163dc6a974e4d63bf289b4444420ae3d.981 No settlement can be reached without NKR’s direct participation in the negotiation process, NKR President Bako Sahakyan reiterated during his meeting with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs who arrived in Stepanakert during their tour of the region. The Co-Chairs have also visited Yerevan and Baku to meet presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and issued a statement upon the end of their visit. Full text of statement at: http://www.osce.org/mg/88686 More details at: http://news.am/eng/news/95888.html On a visit to Brussels, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan called upon the international community to condemn Azerbaijan’s xenophobic rhetoric during a press briefing with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Addressing a government conference Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called “Armenians of the world - the main enemies of Azerbaijan”. () Sargsyan also stressed the importance of direct contacts of the European Union with Artsakh authorities. Read more at: http://news.am/eng/news/96172.html http://news.am/eng/news/96238.html Speaking at the convention of the ruling Republican Party, president Sargsyan noted that international recognition of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination will be the foundation for the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. By rejecting direct negotiations with Artsakh, Azerbaijan artificially postpones the final settlement of the conflict argues a publication in Foreign Policy Journal authored by Aram Avetisyan, counselor of the NKR Office in the United States. See full publication at: http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2012/03/10/karabakh-knot-myths-and-realities/ “Artsakh: From Liberation to Statehood” titled conference organized by ARF brought together over 400 participants in Glendale, CA. More details at: http://asbarez.com/101511/artsakh-from-liberation-to-statehood-conference-brings-together-over-400-community-members/ ECONOMY & BUSINESS Converse Bank launched its operation in Artsakh focusing on agricultural projects. More details at: http://karabakh.net/?section=info_center/view&news_id=188&lang=en Artsakh president met heads of the Artsakh regions to discuss socio-economic issues. Read more at: http://news.am/eng/news/97145.html SOCIETY Graves and pottery dating to the V-VII centuries AD, were discovered in Shushi during construction works. Archeological groups have arrived to continue excavations. “Hayastan” pan-Armenian Fund has marked 20th anniversary since its creation. NKR President Bako Sahakyan highlighted the importance of the Fund in the unification of Armenian nation in his address on this occasion. Read full address at: http://news.am/eng/news/95806.html As of January 1, 2012, 1202 Artsakh families have received state assistance in housing improvement through the Artsakh Investment Fund. More info on AIF at: http://www.aif.am/index.php/en HISTORICAL REFERENCE On March 11, 1999, the European Parliament passed a resolution on Nagorno Karabakh (Resolution on Support for the Peace Process in the Caucasus) that legitimizes the declaration of an independent NKR on the basis of former USSR legislation. The document stressed that “the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence following similar declarations by former Soviet Socialist Republics after the collapse of the USSR in September 1991”. Full text of resolution at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:1999:175:0251:0252:EN:PDF * * * About the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh The Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, was established in 1991 basing on a declaration of the local legislature, and results of a subsequent nation-wide referendum. The people of Artsakh defended their choice in a war unleashed by Azerbaijan. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh has emerged as a democratic, rule-of-law state with capable armed forces, a growing market economy, and an independent foreign policy. *** We would like to hear from you. Please send your comments to the Press Service at: info@nkrusa.org Please visit our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ArtsakhOnline Follow us on the Facebook: Office of Artsakh in the USA *** This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States on behalf of the government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the public representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States 1334 G ST. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005 Tel: (202) 223-4330; Email: info@nkrusa.org Web: www.nkrusa.org
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