Functioning of banks in Artsakh confirms republic`s integration into  global financial system

ArmInfo. The uninterrupted operation of bank branches in Stepanakert, providing full financial services to citizens, confirms that, although Artsakh lacked official  international recognition, it was integrated into the global  financial system.

This is how political scientist and commentator  Benjamin Matevosyan responded to the Armenian authorities' position  on the issue of international recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh  Republic and the alleged isolation that ensued.

As Matevosyan recalled, the ruling regime's position was that  "Armenia's position on Artsakh was not accepted by the international  community." "However, the fact that Armenian banks have operated in  Artsakh for many years without the imposition of direct or indirect  international sanctions-for example, from the US, EU, or UN-or formal  legal restrictions, contradicts the rhetoric about isolation or  rejection of the Armenian position," the political scientist noted.

At the same time, he expressed his conviction that international  observers today are largely unable to understand how it was possible  to hand over the road through Syunik to Armenia during the August 8  meeting in Washington and claim that this constitutes peace. "This is  something the world certainly doesn't understand, although it is  ready to accept and even take advantage of its share in this  'project,'" Matevosyan concluded.

As a reminder, on August 8, a trilateral meeting of the leaders of  the United States, Armenia, and Azerbaijan took place at the White  House. During this meeting, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,  US President Donald Trump, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev  signed a joint declaration aimed at resolving the conflict between  Yerevan and Baku.