No diplomatic missions of other countries ever existed in Artsakh, due to its lack of international recognition. On the other hand, the republic built a small network of representative offices around the world, with representative officesin seven countries.
Following an Azerbaijaniassault on 19 September 2023, Artsakh agreed to dissolve itself by 1 January 2024. In accordance with the agreement, it did so on 1 January 2024, ending its self-proclaimed independence.[8]
The Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stepanakert
Foreign policy of the state was governed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Artsakh. The Ministry was based in the capital city ofStepanakert.
The Republic of Artsakh and the partially recognized Republic ofAbkhazia recognized each other. Both states abolished visa requirements for their citizens and participated in theCommunity for Democracy and Rights of Nations.
In 2012, theParliament of New South Wales called upon the Australian government to recognize Artsakh. Artsakh maintained a Representative Office inSydney, Australia.
WhileArmenia never recognized Artsakh, they had very close relations. It functioned as ade facto part of Armenia.[11][12][13][14][15][16] A representative office of Nagorno-Karabakh was established inYerevan.
The Republic of Artsakh maintained three representative offices inEurope, includingBerlin,Paris, andMoscow.[17]
Artsakh gave a positive response to the Russian recognition ofDonetsk andLuhansk, however this did not extend to their own issuance of recognition.[18]
The Republic of Artsakh andTransnistria recognized each other and abolished visa requirements for their citizens. There were many joint activities between the two countries. In 2001, both countries inStepanakert signed the Protocol on Cooperation and Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Transnistria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh.[21] Transnistria also participates in the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations.
TheUnited States never established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Artsakh and recognized it as part ofAzerbaijan. Support for Artsakh in the United States manifested above all at thestate legislature level. Several of them adopted Artsakh support resolutions. In May 2012, theRhode Island House of Representatives in the United States passed a resolution calling on PresidentBarack Obama and theU.S. Congress to recognize the Republic of Artsakh. In August 2012, theMassachusetts House of Representatives passed a similar resolution.[23] In April 2013, theMaine House of Representatives andSenate passed a resolution accepting Artsakh's independence and urging PresidentBarack Obama to also accept Artsakh's independence.[24] In May 2013, theLouisiana State Senate passed a resolution accepting Artsakh's independence and expressed support for the Republic of Artsakh's efforts to develop as a free and independent nation.[25] In May 2014, theCalifornia State Assembly passed a measure recognizing Artsakh's independence with a 70–1 vote.[26] The measure also called for PresidentBarack Obama and theU.S. Congress to recognize the Republic of Artsakh.[27] The US state ofHawaii unanimously voted to approve and recognize the Republic of Artsakh on March 30, 2016.[28] The Republic of Artsakh also established a representative office inWashington, D.C.[29]
In addition, Artsakh government officials regularly maintained contact with members of theUnited States Congress. In October 2019, the Foreign Minister of Artsakh noted that the authorities of the Republic attach great importance to the relations between Artsakh and the United States at various levels. The Minister also stated his appreciation of the United States for financial aid and support for the peaceful resolution of the conflict, and hoped for further developing cooperation during a meeting with US Congress members.[30]
In October 2012, theAustralian state ofNew South Wales recognized Nagorno-Karabakh[49] however it was reaffirmed by the AustralianForeign Minister in November 2015 that the federal government of theCommonwealth of Australia does not, and supports Azerbaijan's claim to the state.[50] In 2017, TheAustralian Greens Party announced that it recognizes the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).[51][52] In October 2020,the New South Wales Legislative Assembly recognized the independence of the Republic of Artsakh, 61 for and 2 against. The motion also condemned the attacks by Azerbaijan and Turkey against the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh during theSecond Nagorno-Karabakh War.[53]
In September 2014, theBasque parliament adopted a motion supporting Nagorno-Karabakh's right to self-determination.[54] In thePhilippines, various politicians are in favor of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) recognition and have suggested for the cooperation ofASEAN (which includes ten Southeast Asian nations) in the recognition of the country, however, the current administration has yet to prioritize the issue due to an ongoing drug war and a shift to federalism.[55]
Before California recognized Nagorno-Karabakh in May 2014, three places within the state had already recognized it:
In November 2019, theFrench Communist Party urged the French Government to recognize the independence of Artsakh.[61] On 25 November 2020, theFrench Senate adopted a resolution to recognize the independence of Artsakh.
On 24 October 2020, Nadia de León, the President of theCentral American Parliament announced her support for the right of self-determination of Artsakh.[67]
On 5 November 2020, the city ofLaval inQuebec recognized the independence of Artsakh.[68]
On 13 November 2020, the legislature ofUruguay'sMontevideo Department unanimously recognized the independence of the Republic of Artsakh.[69]
As Artsakh was not recognized by the majority of countries of the world (with the exceptions ofAbkhazia,South Ossetia andTransnistria, all of which are also mostly unrecognized), anArtsakh passport was not valid for travel to most countries in the world. However, asdual nationality is permitted, most citizens of Artsakh were entitled to anArmenian passport.
All members of theCommunity for Democracy and Rights of Nations have agreed to abolish visa requirements for each other's citizens. Artsakh passports could be used to travel toSouth Ossetia[70] andTransnistria.[71] Artsakh signed a visa-waiver agreement withAbkhazia on 22 February 2016 and the agreement went into effect on 1 April 2016.[72] Citizens of Artsakh could also travel visa-free to neighboringArmenia.
On 19 March 2019, an Artsakh-Canada Friendship Group was established between the National Assembly of Artsakh and theHouse of Commons of Canada.[75]
On 1 August 2019, an Artsakh-Australia Friendship Group was established between Artsakh and various Australian politicians including Federal Parliament Senators and Ministers, as well as the Premier of the State ofNew South Wales.[75]
On 8 December 2019, Artsakh National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulyan received First Vice President ofGuatemala’s Congress, Felipe Alejos Lorenzana. The sides discussed establishing inter-parliamentary ties.[76]
In June 2020, a parliamentary friendship group was established between the Republic of Artsakh and members of theParliament ofCyprus.[77]
In October 2017, the President of Artsakh,Bako Sahakyan visited theEuropean Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) headquarters in Belgium. A number of issues were discussed including relations between Artsakh and the EU. The President thanked EuFoA for reinforcing ties between Artsakh and variouspan-European structures.[78]
Artsakh officials also had regular contact with theCouncil of Europe. In October 2019, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh, Artak Beglaryan, held a number of meetings with high-ranking officials of the Council of Europe inStrasbourg. Possible areas of cooperation between Artsakh and theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as well as the need to ensure international engagement of unrecognized states was discussed.[80]
There were numerous settlements in the territory with standing links to local communities in other countries. These links are known as "town twinning" (usually in Europe) or "sister cities" (usually in the rest of the world).
^"Full Day Hansard Transcript".Parliament of New South Wales. 2012-10-25. Archived fromthe original on 2013-03-14. Retrieved2012-11-14....calls on the Commonwealth Government to officially recognise the independence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and strengthen Australia's relationship with the Nagorno-Karabakh and its citizens.
^Hughes, James (2002).Ethnicity and Territory in the Former Soviet Union: Regions in Conflict. London: Cass. p. 211.ISBN978-0-7146-8210-5.Indeed, Nagorno-Karabakh is de facto part of Armenia.
^Mulcaire, Jack (9 April 2015)."Face Off: The Coming War between Armenia and Azerbaijan".The National Interest.Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved8 April 2016.The mostly Armenian population of the disputed region now lives under the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a micronation that is supported by Armenia and is effectively part of that country.
^"Armenia expects Russian support in Karabakh war".Hürriyet Daily News. 20 May 2011.Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved25 June 2013.While internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory, the enclave has declared itself an independent republic but is administered as a de facto part of Armenia.
^Central Asia and The Caucasus, Information and Analytical Center, 2009, Issues 55-60, Page 74, "Nagorno-Karabakh became de facto part of Armenia (its quasi-statehood can dupe no one) as a result of aggression."
^Cornell, Svante (2011).Azerbaijan Since Independence. New York: M.E. Sharpe. p. 135.ISBN978-0-7656-3004-9.Following the war, the territories that fell under Armenian control, in particular Mountainous Karabakh itself, were slowly integrated into Armenia. Officially, Karabakh and Armenia remain separate political entities, but for most practical matters the two entities are unified.
^Wright, Pam. "Montebello's newest Sister City program has come under fire from an ambassador for the Republic of Azerbaijan."Whittier Daily News. November 19, 2005.
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Abkhazia
South Ossetia
Transnistria
California(May 2014)[32][27]
Georgia(March 2016)[33]
Hawaii(March 2016)[34]
New Jersey(June 2021)[35]
Louisiana(May 2013)[36]
Maine(April 2013)[37]
Massachusetts(August 2012)[23]
Michigan(September 2017)[38]
Rhode Island(May 2012)[39]
Colorado(April 2019)[40]
Minnesota(May 2020)[41]
Idaho(April 2021)[42]
Kentucky(March 2016)[43]
Mississippi(April 2014)[44]
South Dakota(February 2014)[45]
Tennessee(March 2014)[45]
Wyoming(February 2014)[45]
Vermont(April 2014)[46]
Arizona(January 2014)[47]
New Mexico(February 2014)[48]
Armenia (Yerevan)[86]
Australia (Sydney)[87]
France (Paris)[88]
Germany (Berlin)[89]
Lebanon (Beirut)
Russia (Moscow)[88]
United States (Washington D.C.)[91]
