Instead of "NKR-Azerbaijan Line of Contact" "NKR-Azerbaijan Border"

• 08.18.2015, 16:51
•  NKR

Nowadays because of psychological and information war the correct use of every term becomes of special importance. Karabakh conflict and its negotiation process are one of those sensible issues, where the Azerbaijani side tries to get engaged in wide propaganda and does everything to make it effective. On this occasion special attention should be paid to our choice of the terminology and the names to counter Azerbaijani propaganda. The wrong usage of the terms that may seem of little importance at first glance can undermine our stance on the issue.

Among those mistakes is often met wrong use of the term "NKR-Azerbaijan line of contact" instead of "NKR-Azerbaijan border".

In the expression "NKR-Azerbaijan line of contact" there are some problematic issues that need to be pointed out separately. First of all, in spite of its being non-recognized, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has all established state institutions.  Moreover, by the level of its developed democracy it exceeds other states in the region. That is why all the efforts should be made to avoid undermining its popularity and sovereignty in the public and international perceptions.

As for the expression "line of contact," NKR has clearly defined territory with its borders under the sovereignty of NKR government. In this case the use  of the term "line of contact" puts under question sovereignty of NKR.

The use of the term "line of contact" especially undermines our positions when it is used parallel with the term "RA-Azerbaijan border." The examples of such kind of parallel use are unfortunately met frequently enough both in national and international articles.

Each side of a conflict uses particular terminology on the basis of which their own interests lie. In this sense  it is at least illogical to become slaves of those interests. Consequently, the use of the term "NKR-Azerbaijan line of contact" cannot be considered acceptably in any sense. The term "NKR-Azerbaijan borders" is the most acceptable one as long as it stresses the sovereignty  of  NKR and underlies the existence of its precise borders as well as contributes to the strengthened stance of the Armenian sides both in the negotiation process and in general.