On February 13, Acting Foreign Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Vassily Atajanian received a delegation of representatives of educational and business circles of the Slovakian Republic headed by first Chairman of the Slovakian National Council Frantisek Miklosko. During the meeting, Vassily Atajanian briefly introduced the history of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), the origins of the Karabakh conflict, the current stage of the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict settlement, and the position of official Stepanakert. «Unfortunately, Nagorno Karabakh – a historical part of Armenia – was forcedly included in the structure of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic. For the entire 75-year stay of Nagorno Karabakh in the structure of Soviet Azerbaijan, Baku had conducted a policy on expelling the native Armenian population from the region», noted the NKR Acting Foreign Minister. He emphasized that after the USSR collapse the NKR people had declared an independent state on a perfect legal basis and, having repelled the aggression of Azerbaijan, had created a civilized and democratic society. Speaking of the conflict settlement process, Vassily Atajanian noted the destructive position of official Baku, actually, undermining the negotiation process. According to him, for achieving progress, the basic issue should be resolved – to recognize the independent status of Nagorno Karabakh. Vassily Atajanian answered the guests' questions related to the regional processes and humanitarian issues in the context of the Karabakh issue, as well as the situation in different spheres of the NKR vital activity. The delegation members made specific proposals on the realization of corresponding programs in the NKR. Mr. Atajanian expressed his gratitude to Frantisek Miklosko and the delegation members, as well as to the visit’s organizer – President of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe Ashot Grigorian for their consistent and open support of the Karabakh people’s just struggle and granted them souvenirs, the NKR MFA Press Service informs.

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