Basque Representative Calls for Artsakh Independence

YEREVAN (ArmRadio)—The peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through the realization of the right to self-determination is a most important issue, Member of the European Parliament Inaki Razabalbeitia Fernandez said in Yerevan on Tuesday. The Member of the European Parliament, representing the Basque Country of northern Spain, was on visit to Artsakh in the previous days.

Sharing his impressions from his visit, the legislator said his party (The Greens—European Free Alliance) has long been fighting for the independence of the Basque Country and will do the same for Nagorno Karabakh, asserting that “self-determination is the most important democratic right.”

“I think that raising the issue of recognition for Nagorno Karabakh’s independence in the European Parliament could be a first step,” Fernandez said. “Initiatives should come from all parties, including the OSCE Minsk Group.”

Asked about his thoughts on being “blacklisted” by Azerbaijan for visiting Artsakh, the Basque representative said his party has a very clear stance on all issues related to self-determination and they are not afraid of being included in Azerbaijan’s “black list.”

A member of the Spanish Parliament, Iñárritu Garcia, accompanied Fernandez on his trip to Armenia and Artsakh. Garcia told the Armenian press that they consider people’s right to self-determination as the utmost democratic right. Speaking of the visit to Nagorno Karabakh, he said: “We saw a country committed to European values, which is aspiring for new values, and is doing better than some Council of Europe member states.”

The European lawmakers stressed that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic should be recognized by the international community as in the case with Kosovo.