REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH WITHIN ONE YEAR
On Constitution, not the Status
By Tatoul Hakobian
Azg/arm
20 July 05
A constitutional referendum will be held in Nagorno Karabakh within
one year. As it is known, Karabakh, like Great Britain and Israel,
has no constitution but instead constitutional or main laws. Today,
the authorities in Karabakh think that the republic needs to have a
constitution. The Artsakhi Armenians w ill have to vote for or against
the constitution which clearly states that Nagorno Karabakh Republic
is an independent and sovereign state.
The constitutional referendum, perhaps, is the main factor why the
authorities in Karabakh turned down the offer to decide the status
of the region by a referendum. Political analyst Davit Babayan from
Stepanakert told daily Azg that it’s not expedient to hold a referendum
to decide the status of Karabakh. “A constitutional referendum
will take place in Karabakh soon. If any international organization
backs Azerbaijan’s position on referendum then the coming vote for
constitution will reveal the will of Artsakhi people”, he said.
Numerous publications in the press have been often indicating
lately that a referendum in 10-15 years may seal the fate of Nagorno
Karabakh. Official Yerevan seems to be in favor of referendum. Foreign
minister Oskanian, particularly, hinted that a referendum to decide
the status of Karabakh is an acceptable alternative for Yerevan.
Official Baku and the Nagorno Karabakh are not really enthusiastic
over the idea of a referendum. Information leakage from Baku lately
disclosed that Azerbaijan looks to “5+1+1” alternative, i.e. Armenian
forces will hand over 5 starting territories and afterwards Qelbajar
and Lachin.
Davit Babayan thinks that the territorial issue and the status are the
key elements of conflict regulation. “To understand the concessions in
the issues of territory and status, one should understand the essence
of the Karabakh conflict. The essence is neither the territories nor
the status but the issue of existence. Therefore, Nagorno Karabakh
has to have territories and status that will guarantee its security
and will allow it to develop. There are territories that cannot be
disputed. They are Lachin and Qelbajar”, he said.
