Not Liberated Territories or Something Else, but NKR Regions

• 08.11.2015, 09:58
•  NKR

While speaking about Karabakh conflict or about Artsakh very often it becomes quite difficult to choose a correct terminology. One of such problematic issues is the "description" of territories.

"Liberated territories", "security zone" any other name or "NKR regions"? This problem arises while speaking about the regions surrounding the former NKAO.

These territories are now an integral part of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which is enshrined in the Constitution, and are included in the NKR administrative division. NKR includes Askeran, Hadrut, Martakert, Martuni, Shahumyan, Shushi, Stepanakert (city, district) and Kashatagh regions. As a result of the war, Shahumyan region - 22 villages (17 communities), as well as some territories of Martakert and Martuni regions have been captured by the Azerbaijani side and are still under its control.

Moreover, today Artsakh is putting great efforts to resettle these regions, did its best for their economic development, infrastructure rehabilitation. After all, a whole Artsakh "independence generation" grew up, who consider these areas their homeland.

"Liberated territories" or the use of any other term makes a distinction between the NKR regions, separating the territory of the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region and surrounding territories. In addition, the use of such terminology does not allow to get rid of associating Artsakh with conflict, while the NKR is a developing country which needs to be understood and strengthened in the perceptions of the international community - Arttsakh is a developing country, not a crisis zone.

Besides, the current administrative division of NKR does not similarly correspond to the geographical boundaries of the liberated territories and the use of the former names of the districts is causing confusion in the perceptions. Therefore, it is appropriate to apply whenever possible, their current names, and view them as NKR administrative regions.