Reunification of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR and the National Council of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, Decision on the Reunification of the Armenian SSR and NKAO. December 4, 1989
On December 4, 1989, Armenia’s Supreme Soviet and Nagorno-Karabakh’s National Council issued a bold reunification decision, grounding their claim in self-determination and earlier votes in the oblast. The document recognizes alternative Karabakh authorities as “sole legal” power, extends Armenian citizenship to NKAO residents, and creates joint bodies to implement union—directly challenging Moscow and Baku.
Proceeding from the universal principles of national self-determination and acceding to the lawful aspiration for reunification of the two forcibly separated segments of the Armenian people, the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR and the National Council of the NKAO resolve that:
The Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR hereby recognizes the fact of NKAO's self-determination as affirmed by the decisions of the 20 February 1988 and 12 July 1988 sessions of the NKAO's oblast Soviet as well as by the 16 August 1989 Congress of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the Oblast's Population and the 19 October session of the National Council.
The Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR recognizes the Congress of the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the NKAO and the National Council it has elected as the sole legal authority functioning in the oblast at present.
The Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR and the National Council of the NKAO declare the reunification of the Armenian SSR and the NKAO. The rights of Armenian SSR citizenship extends to the population of the NKAO.
The Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR and the National Council of NKAO hereby create a joint commission, with its operational apparatus, to formulate practical steps for the realization of the reunification of the Armenian SSR and NKAO.
The Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR and the National Council of the NKAO assume the obligation to represent the national interests of the Armenian population in northern Artsakh (NKAO), Shaumyon rayon, and Getashen district.
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR, and the Presidium of the National Council of the NKAO are instructed to execute this decision.
Source: Foreign Broadcast Information Service, Daily Report (U.S. Dept. of Commerce; National Technical Information Service, 1989)