Parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh refuses to discuss Declaration "On the Right of People of Nagorno-Karabakh to Peace and Free Development"

The parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh decided not to discuss the draft declaration "On the Right of People of Nagorno-Karabakh to Peace and Free Development" brought in by the Public Council of Nagorno-Karabakh on foreign policy and security.

The public discussion of the draft declaration was held on November 26, 2010, in Stepanakert. The civil society leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, lawyers, political scientists, journalists and governmental officials welcomed the initiative of the Public Council with this document. The declaration makes Azerbaijan liable for the onset of the Karabakh conflict; while it authors see the settlement of the conflict through international recognition of sovereignty of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Public Council of Nagorno-Karabakh on foreign policy and security received a letter, in which Vagram Atanesyan, Chairman of the Standing Commission of the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh on Foreign Relations, informs that "according to the Constitution of Nagorno-Karabakh, the National Assembly is competent to make decisions, and accept messages and statements solely as a part of legislative activity and organization of its work," and that the proposed draft declaration may not be a subject for debates at the Parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Masis Mailyan, Chairman of the Public Council, said that, nevertheless, he hoped that he would convince the Parliament of Karabakh "of the need and expediency to discuss the draft declaration." "We must prove to ourselves and the world that we live in the country where the parliament does not reject public initiatives, but expresses them," Mr Mailyan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.