International Relations of the Republic of Artsakh
International recognition of its independence is one of the key priorities of the foreign policy of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Republic of Artsakh). The people of the NKR expressed their determination to build and strengthen their statehood based on democratic norms in the independence referendum on December 10, 1991 and the constitutional referendums on December 10, 2006 and February 20, 2017.
The successes registered in the state-building process led to certain positive developments in the process of international recognition of the NKR independence. Eleven US states and one Australian state, as well as the Basque Parliament adopted resolutions in support of the right of the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to self-determination:
On May 17, 2012, the resolution of the House of Representatives of the US state of Rhode Island;
On August 6, 2012, the resolution of the House of Representatives of the US Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
On October 25, 2012, the resolution of the Legislative Council of Australia’s New South Wales State Parliament;
On April 10, 2013, the resolution of the House of Representatives of the US state of Maine;
On May 30, 2013, the resolution of the Senate of the US State of Louisiana;
On May 8 and August 27, 2014, the joint resolution of the Senate and the Assembly of the US State of California;
On September 12, 2014, the resolution of the Parliament of the Basque Country;
On March 3, 2016, the resolution of the House of Representatives of the US state of Georgia;
On March 29, 2016, the resolution of the House of Representatives of the US state of Hawaii;
On September 28, 2017, the resolution of the Senate of the US state of Michigan;
On April 24, 2019, the resolution of the Senate of the US state of Colorado;
On April 24, 2021, the resolution of the Senate of the state of Idaho;
On June 30, 2021, the resolution of the Senate of the state of New Jersey.
Similar resolutions were also adopted by the following cities:
On April 23, 2013, Fresno (US, California);
On September 10, 2013, Los Angeles (US, California);
On November 5, 2013, Highland (US, California);
On April 20, 2016, Honolulu (US, Hawaii).
The Special Representative of the RF President and the Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group holds talks in Stepanakert with Robert Kocharyan and other leaders of Karabakh.
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group hold talks in Stepanakert with President of NKR Arkadi Ghukasyan and other officials.
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group hold talks in Stepanakert with President of NKR Bako Sahakyan and other officials.
Photos courtesy of the Office of the President of the Republic of Artsakh.
On May 11, 1999, the European Parliament adopted a resolution which stated that Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence immediately after the similar declarations by Soviet Republics.
On November 3, 2014, the Board of Spokespersons of the Parliament of Navarre (an autonomous community / area in Spain) issued an official statement, saying that the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh should be an indispensable part of any level of negotiations which can decide the country's future.
The international recognition of Artsakh along with being an additional stimulus for the further development and strengthening of the statehood of Artsakh and, in particular, its democratic institutions, will also have a positive impact on the settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.
The delay in international recognition of the NKR only added to Azerbaijan’s temptation to solve the conflict by military means, the proof of which were the large-scale aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against the NKR on April 2-5 2016 and the 44-day war in 2020 which ended with major human and territorial losses for Artsakh.
The international recognition of the NKR will be not only an effective lever to eliminate the possibility of a further Azerbaijani aggressions but a safeguard against physical extermination of its indigenous population. The international recognition will assure the irreversibility of the peaceful settlement process and will make it possible to focus on the creation of necessary mechanisms and conditions for peaceful coexistence of two sovereign states – the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan, established as a result of the collapse of the USSR and the war forced by Azerbaijan.
Artsakh has Permanent Representations in the following countries/regions:
Republic of Armenia
Russian Federation
United States of America
Canada
French Republic
Germany
Australia
Middle East
International Cooperation
The Nagorno Karabakh Republic attaches great importance to integration in international processes aimed at the consolidation and development of cooperation in economic, political and cultural spheres.
The NKR works towards establishing and developing decentralized cooperation between communities of Artsakh and different foreign states. Along with consolidation of friendly relations between peoples, such ties also create opportunities for implementation of different projects in the spheres of culture, education, sport, trade, and local self-governance.
Friendly relations have been established between the communities of Artsakh and the USA, France, the Basque Country (Spain), Brazil and Lebanon:
May 22, 1998, Villeurbanne (France) - Stepanakert
October 26, 2005, Montebello (USA, California) - Stepanakert
May 9, 2012, Los Angeles (USA, California) - Shushi
June 11, 2013, Les Pennes-Mirabeau (France) - Martuni
November 26, 2013, Highland (California, USA) - Berdzor
February 21, 2014, Vienne (France) - Hadrut
April 22, 2014, Pico Rivera (California, USA) - Karvachar
September 13, 2014, Donostia/San Sebastian (Basque Country) - Stepanakert
October 5, 2014, Bourg-les-Valence (France)- Shushi
October 28, 2014, Burbank (California, USA) - Hadrut
November 19, 2014, Bouc-Bel-Air (France) - Askeran
May 17, 2015, Valence (France) - Stepanakert
May 18, 2015, Villeurbanne (France) - Shushi
May 20, 2015, Sarcelles (France) – Martakert
February 3, 2016, Franco da Rocha (Brazil) - Stepanakert
September 25, 2017, Decines-Charpieu (France) - Chartar
November 20, 2017, Alfortville (France) - Berdzor
April 3, 2018, Bourg-de-Péage (France) - Martuni
May 17, 2018, Bourj Hammoud (Lebanon) - Martakert
May 18, 2018, Anjar (Lebanon) - Kovsakan
October 21, 2018, Saint-Étienne (France) - Shushi
October 22, 2018, Arnouville (France) - Shekher
July 23, 2019, Ryde (Australia) - Stepanakert
September 20, 2019, Department of Isere (France) - Hadrut region
On 17 May 2015, a declaration on cooperation between Drome department of France (Region Rhône-Alpes) and Artsakh was signed within the framework of the visit to France of the NKR delegation headed by President Bako Sahakyan.
On 20 September 2019, a Declaration of Friendship was signed between Hadrut region of the Republic of Artsakh and the Department of Isere of the French Republic.
Special importance is attached to the establishment of inter-parliamentary ties, in particular:
Friendship Group with Nagorno Karabakh was established in the Sejm of Lithuanian Republic on 26 February 2013.On July 5, 2017, the parliamentary friendship group was expanded and transformed into a circle of friendship between Lithuania and Artsakh, which included deputies of the parliament, political and public figures of Lithuania.
Friendship group with Nagorno Karabakhwas established in France with involvement of politicians, parliament deputies and senators of France on 19 March 2013;
On October 14, the start of the process of establishing a Friendship Group with Artsakh was announced in the European Parliament during the solemn events on the occasion of NKR`s 23rd anniversary of independence, in which Ashot Ghulyan, the Chairman of National Assembly of the NKR took part.
On October 18, 2017 the establishment of a friendship group of Flemish deputies of Belgium with Artsakh was announced in the Flemish Parliament of Belgium. President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan attended the opening ceremony of the friendship group.
On October 20, 2017 the creation of a circle of friendship of French-speaking deputies, public and scientific figures of Belgium with Artsakh was announced in the Walloon Parliament of Brussels (Belgium). The solemn ceremony of creating a circle of friendship was attended by the President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan.
On March 19, 2019, the Group of ‘Parliamentary Friends of the People of Artsakh’ was established in the House of Commons of Canada, and member of the House of Commons Rachel Harder was elected its Chairwoman. In response to this initiative, on March 27, the Artsakh - Canada Friendship Group was established in the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, comprising representatives of all the factions.
On April 24, 2019, the House of Representatives of the U.S. State of Colorado adopted a resolution in support of the Republic of Artsakh, stressing the inadmissibility of the blockade of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
During the visit of the delegation of the Republic of Artsakh to Australia on August 1, 2019, the establishment of a Circle of Friendship with Artsakh in Australia was announced. The Circle comprised members of the Federal Parliament, Senators and Ministers, as well as the Prime Minister of the State of New South Wales, the Speakers of the Upper and lower Houses of the State Parliament, scientists, clergymen and cultural figures. Currently, the Circle comprises about 57 members.
In the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh there are formed the following inter-parliamentary friendship groups, which have been running since the day of the National Assembly’s formation.
«Republic of Artsakh – European Parliament» Friendship Group
«Republic of Artsakh - Flemish Parliament of Belgium» Friendship Group
