This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

20 years ago, through the adoption of legal decisions on independence based on Soviet and International Laws, new states were created in our region. The right to self-determination and decolonization from the Soviet Union was exercised not only byArmenia,AzerbaijanandGeorgia, but by Mountainous Karabagh as well.

These four political entities declared independence approximately at the same time. Armenia,AzerbaijanandGeorgiahave been members of the Council of Europe for 10 years now, while Artsakh is not a member of this organisation. Despite these facts and the difficult situation it finds itself in, Artsakh has nonetheless adopted and is consistently following a political path of state-building in conformity with the spirit, the mission and the values of the Council of Europe.

Highly appreciating the results and the dynamics of democracy-building adopted as a development model by Artsakh and realising the importance of the participation of the official delegates of Artsakh to the negotiations taking place within the context of the OSCE Minsk Group,

we congratulate theRepublicofMountainous Karabaghon its 20th anniversary and call for close co-operation with its duly-elected authorities.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed: ¹

POSTANJYANZaruhi,Armenia, EPP/CD

BACQUELAINEDaniel,Belgium, ALDE

BADRÉDenis,France, ALDE

BAGHDASARYANGagik,Armenia, ALDE

BARCIA DUEDRAGerard,Andorra, SOC

BÉTEILLELaurent,France, EPP/CD

BLONDINMaryvonne,France, SOC

BLUMRoland,France, EPP/CD

BOCCHINOItalo,Italy, NR

COLOMBIER Georges,France, EPP/CD

DONABAUERKarl,Austria, EPP/CD

FALZONJoseph,Malta, EPP/CD

FOURNIERBernard,France, EPP/CD

FRANKENHans,Netherlands, EPP/CD

HARUTYUNYANDavit,Armenia, EDG

HAUPERTNorbert,Luxembourg, EPP/CD

MAISSENTheo,Switzerland, EPP/CD

MARINChristine,France, EPP/CD

MARLAND-MILITELLOMuriel,France, EPP/CD

MATEU PIMeritxell,Andorra, ALDE

MAYEREdgar,Austria, EPP/CD

MEALEAlan,United Kingdom, SOC

MELIKYANArmen,Armenia, ALDE

NAGHDALYANHermine,Armenia, ALDE

PRESEČNIKJakob,Slovenia, EPP/CD

PUCHE RODRÍGUEZ-ACOSTAGabino,Spain, EPP/CD

ROCHEBLOINEFrançois,France, EPP/CD

ROUQUETRené,France, SOC

RUSTAMYANArmen,Armenia, SOC

SAÏDIFatiha,Belgium, SOC

TODOROVIĆDragan,Serbia, NR

ZOHRABYAN Naira,Armenia, ALDE

__________________

Total = 32

¹        EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      SOC: Socialist Group

      ALDE:Allianceof Liberals and Democrats forEurope

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group