NK OBSERVER: "OSCE POSITION CONCERNING TRANSDNESTR REFERENDUM IS VERY STRANGE"
Regnum, Russia
Sept 25 2006
"Referendum on Transdnestr Moldavian Republic’s (TMR) independence was
conducted in accordance with all international norms; no violations
were recorded by us," Nagorno Karabakh delegation member, NKR FM and
CEC representative Semyon Afiyan, who monitored the recent referendum
on Transdnestr independence as an international observer, stated to
a REGNUM correspondent.
The observer stressed republican citizens’ high activity and
responsibility. Simultaneously, he called "very strange" position of
the OSCE, which negatively reacted to referendum, having even sent no
observers to it. The Karabakh delegation, which comprised NKR National
Assembly Permanent Commission on State and Legal Affairs Chairman Yury
Ayrapetyan and NKR Industrials and Entrepreneurs Union Chairman, NA
Deputy Samvel Hakopyan, met with TMR President Igor Smirnov; it visited
famous Kvint brandy-producing factory in Tiraspol, participated in
harvest festival and new church’s consecration in Dayeban village. NKR
IEU Chairman Samvel Hakopyan donated $500 to the church’s foundation.
Economic cooperation was discussed during a meeting at Transdnestr
Chamber of Commerce and Industry. NKR representatives familiarized
themselves with Transdnestr production. The Karabakh delegation met
with representatives of Armenian community in city of Grigoriopol,
which was founded by Armenians under Katherine the Great. "Although,
there are not many Armenians in Transdnestr, they play important
role in republican social-political life, contributing to Transdnestr
economy’s development," Semyon Afiyan said. The NKR representatives
donated books to local museum.
It is worth reminding, the Nagorno Karabakh delegation was present
at the September 17 referendum on independence, being invited by
TMR leadership.