European official’s stance on Karabakh polls “far from reality”

Artsakh State TV, Stepanakert
5 Aug 04

August

[Presenter in studio] On 5 August, the press service of the ministry
of foreign affairs of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR] commented
on the statement of Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter
Schwimmer who expressed his regret about the elections to local
government bodies in the NKR. Schwimmer has made such statements
several times.

The NKR ministry of foreign affairs regards the logic of the statement
as strange and far from reality. Elections are an important component
of building democracy and a civic society. Elections are also a tool
for electing authorities that represent the NKR in the negotiating
process on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement.

The NKR foreign ministry thinks that the international community is
not interested in anarchy and in halting the establishment of
democracy in Nagornyy Karabakh. Such statements can be regarded as
political support for the regime that unleashed a war on Nagornyy
Karabakh, violates democracy and is far behind Nagornyy Karabakh in
democratic development.