VZCZCXYZ0026
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHYE #0273 1131541
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231541Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8957
INFO RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1159

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000273 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PBTS OPDC AJ AM
SUBJECT: DE FACTO NAGORNO-KARABAKH AUTHORITIES SEND LETTER 
TO DRL A/S STEWART ON NK CHARACTERIZATION IN THE HUMAN 
RIGHTS REPORT 
 
¶1.  The Embassy received the following letter in English from 
the "Foreign Minister" of the self-proclaimed 
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" addressed to DRL A/S Stewart 
regarding the latest State Department human rights report. 
 
¶2.  VERBATIM TEXT OF "NKR" LETTER (AS RECEIVED): 
 
 
Dear Ambassador Stewart: 
The people and the government of the Nagorno Karabakh 
Republic (NKR) appreciate and welcome the U.S. championship 
in establishing true democratic principles throughout the 
world. The people of Nagorno Karabakh share the ideas of 
democracy and we remain determined to continue building a 
strong democratic state for the benefit of all nations in the 
region. 
The annual Country Reports by your Bureau usually portray a 
balanced approach to existing challenges in foreign 
countries, objectively assessing main problems in relation to 
human rights and democratic development. We consider these 
reports to be reputable documents by the State Department, 
which must contain well-grounded and objective information on 
human rights situation in different parts of the world. 
Unfortunately, your most recent, 2008 Country Reports on 
Human Rights Practices, particularly in its parts concerning 
Armenia and Azerbaijan, contains inaccurate information which 
may lead to wrong and biased understanding of the essence, as 
well as the cause and consequences of the Azerbaijan)NKR 
conflict. 
It is with profound disappointment that we noticed a 
continued distortion of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. The 
reports on Armenia and Azerbaijan, unfortunately, failed once 
again to consider the whole complex of facts and 
preconditions for the current situation in the region. The 
one-sided language in the Human Rights report utterly 
disregards the opinion and the will of the people residing in 
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic itself - a people that were 
subjected to aggression by Azerbaijan for trying to exercise 
their right to live in freedom under the government of their 
own choosing. We are convinced that the use of phrases like 
"ethnic Armenian separatists" to describe the NKR people, who 
sacrificed immensely for their freedom, as well as many other 
unacceptable definitions and numbers are clearly the result 
of Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian propaganda, and therefore must 
be excluded from the report language since they undermine the 
spirit and the goals of your Bureau's activity. 
The formation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in 1991 was 
conducted in full compliance with then-acting Soviet 
legislation and norms of the international law, and was 
called to rectify Joseph Stalin,s arbitrary decision to 
place this ancient Armenian territory under Soviet 
Azerbaijan's rule. Seven decades of Soviet Azerbaijan's 
administrative rule resulted in sharp shift of the 
demographic situation in Nagorno Karabakh, accompanied with 
dozens of killings and oppression of the local Armenian 
population. All this, along with the Azerbaijani manner of 
dealing with any expression of the free will, prove the 
righteousness of our decision, and also show the 
impossibility of a peaceful co-existence of Azeris and 
Armenians within a common administrative entity. 
Since day one of its proclamation, the Nagorno Karabakh 
Republic embarked on the path towards building an 
independent, democratic state, which can guarantee its 
citizens their rights and freedom. Several rounds of 
elections on all levels, assessed by international observers 
as free and transparent, as well as effective governance 
within its borders make the NKR one of the very few viable 
states in our part of the world where democratic processes 
have become irreversible. 
We highly appreciate the continued U.S. efforts as a co-chair 
of the OSCE Minsk Group to facilitate finding a lasting and 
just solution to the Nagorno Karabakh's conflict with 
Azerbaijan. We realize that the settlement process is a very 
difficult challenge, and thus have repeatedly affirmed our 
readiness to work closely with international mediators 
towards establishing peace and stability in the South 
Caucasus. 
For these reasons, we respectfully request that you review 
the language and the essence of the official report of the 
U.S. State Department where it relates to Nagorno Karabakh. A 
balanced and objective report could promote the U.S. 
mediation efforts and contribute to establishing confidence 
among the conflicting sides. 
 
Sincerely, 
Georgy Petrossian, Minister 
YOVANOVITCH