STATEMENT BY THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – GUAM

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2006

The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affaires expresses its serious
concern over a so-called "constitutional referendum" scheduled on
December 10, 2006, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic
of Azerbaijan.

The Council emphasizes that holding the so-called "referendum" violates
the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan as well as relevant
norms and principles of the international law, and, thus, shall have
no legal effect and its results shall be considered as null and void.

The Ministers underline that the so-called "referendum" interferes
with an ongoing peace process, is designed to impose a fait accompli
situation in the region and misleads the international community.

The GUAM Council stresses that such an act runs contrary to the
universally recognized standards and values of democracy, rule
of law and human rights. Any constitutional document envisaging a
self-rule for the population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region can only
be elaborated through a legal, democratic and peaceful process with
a full, equal and direct participation of the entire population of
the region consisting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities.

The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affaires calls on the OSCE
participating States and other international organizations to condemn
such an illegal act and to support the ongoing efforts aimed at finding
a peaceful resolution of the conflict on the basis of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders.