CRISIS GROUP WELCOMES PERMISSION FOR GARABAGH ARMENIANS TO VOTE AT NOVEMBER POLL

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 12 2005

Baku, September 9, AssA-Irada
The International Crisis Group, an organization working to prevent
conflicts worldwide, has welcomed the resumption of activity of
the Khankandi district constituency in Upper Garabagh, which will
allow ethnic Armenian citizens of Azerbaijan to vote in the November
parliament elections, the ICG project director on South Caucasus
Sabin Frasier said.

Frasier told a news conference in Baku on Friday that she discussed
the issue with the Central Election Commission chairman Mazahir
Panahov. She noted that the Azeri government has repeatedly confirmed
that Armenian residents of Upper Garabagh are Azerbaijani citizens.

“Drawing all of the country’s citizens to the election process is a
positive tendency.”

Frasier noted however, that the decision was belated, which ‘creates
certain problems in its implementation’.

The ICG representative called on the Azeri to step up the relations
between the Azeri and Armenian communities of Garabagh.*