Karabakh polls to prove “democracy has no alternative” – Armenian TV

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
18 Jun 05

[Presenter] The main political event of the day are elections to the
Artsakh [Karabakh] parliament, which will take place tomorrow [19
June]. As is known, 120 international organizations and media outlets
are monitoring the voting process. Our correspondent Vage Kostandyan
will tell us what is going on in Stepanakert [Xankandi] while a few
hours are left until the elections.

[Correspondent Vage Kostandyan from Stepanakert] The Artsakh people
have been struggling for ages to stand firmly on their native
land. There is one way – self-determination in a democratic way. But
this is a historical fact that this democracy has suffered at
different times not through the Artsakh people’s fault.

By holding elections to the Nagornyy Karabakh parliament on 19 June,
the Artsakh people will once again prove that democracy has no
alternative. Although some Azerbaijani media have voiced doubtful
opinions about the elections, more than 100 international observers
will monitor the election process.

[Gevork Movsesyan, captioned as an Artsakh resident] I shall certainly
take part in the voting. If I respect my rights as a voter, I must
go. We have proved earlier to the world that we are the masters of
ourselves and of this land. There was nobody thousands of years
ago. This is an Armenian land and it has remained Armenian. Let nobody
think they can return here again. This is an old dream.

[Erna Gasparyan, captioned as an Artsakh resident, in Russian] We have
established a state and by these elections we want to prove this to
the world. I am sure that these elections will be just and
transparent.

[Correspondent] Under the Electoral Code of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR], for the first time parliamentary elections will be
held under the first-past-the-post and proportional representation
systems, which, for its part, is a bright example of a new step on the
path to democracy. Six political parties and one political bloc will
contest parliamentary seats tomorrow.

[Chairman of the NKR Central Electoral Commission, Sergey Nasibyan,
captioned] In fact, all the preparation work has been completed.
Generally, 276 polling stations have been opened, 275 of which are on
the territory of the NKR, and one office has been opened in the
Republic of Armenia by the NKR representative office for the citizens
of Karabakh who are temporally living in Armenia.

[Correspondent] The Central Electoral Commission received only 12
complaints during the election campaign. Many of them have been dealt
with, and a few of them will be resolved in court.

Vage Kostandyan, Tigran Babayan, “Aylur”, Stepanakert.