Not Nagorno-Karabakh, but Nagorno-Karabakh Republic or Artsakh

• 08.02.2015, 11:15
•  NKR

Quite often we meet terms or names in materials on Artsakh or the negotiation process of Karabakh conflict that are being used in a wrong way. On one hand this is because of lack of knowledge and on the other hand the result of the Azerbaijani propaganda. Unfortunately, the use of wrong terms of negotiation process is having a serious impact both in regard with weakening the position of our sides in the negotiation process and also in terms of linguistic thinking.

One of the mistakes made so often is the use of the term "Nagorno-Karabakh" instead of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic or Artsakh.

To understand why it is wrong, it should be explained in what meaning the term “Nagorno-Karabakh” is being used:

• Nagorno-Karabakh is a historical region in the South Caucasus, which lies between the Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and occupies the south-eastern mountainous range of the Lesser Caucasus.
• Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) of former Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) in short was also called Nagorno-Karabakh. NKAO was formed in 1923. It had about 4,400 km² territory and only part of it is now included in NKR (part of Martuni, Martakert regions, as well as the region united to NKAO with the 1989 decision of the regional council are now occupied by Azerbaijan).

As a geographical name the use of the term Nagorno-Karabakh does not cause any problem, but the situation is different when it is used for introducing an element of the negotiation process or when speaking about the second Armenian Republic.

First of all it should be mentioned that today’s NKR does not wholly include Nagorno- Karabakh and what is the most important thing – by using this term we leave out the 7 liberated regions which are now in the territory of NKR.

Today, both the co-chairs and Azerbaijan in their negotiation wording use the term Nagorno-Karabakh. If the former use it to stress the uncertainty of the fate of the liberated regions and for showing that it is a separate element in the negotiation process, then Azerbaijan, with the use of this term shows that it considers the 7 regions to be occupied and on the other hand  it corresponds to the thesis of the Azerbaijani side that the only solution to Karabakh conflict is the creation of autonomous region within Azerbaijan like NKAO.

If the Azerbaijani side and the co-chairs have their motives for using the term Nagorno-Karabakh, then it is at least not logical and not acceptable its usage by Armenians. Today, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, though not being internationally recognized, with its established state institutions does not concede to any country. We should use any opportunity for making it clear to the international community that NKR has the right of life  and we should not hit its subjectivity by the usage of a wrong term. As for the liberated regions, then they have strategic-security and historical importance not only for Artsakh people but also for Armenia, Armenians. Thus it is natural that they are considered to be inseparable part of NKR.