AZERBAIJAN’S BREAKAWAY KARABAKH ADOPTS ITS FIRST CONSTITUTION
RIA Novosti, Russia
Dec 11 2006
YEREVAN, December 11 (RIA Novosti) – Azerbaijan’s breakaway province
of Nagorno-Karabakh has overwhelmingly voted in favor of its first
constitution, the central election commission said Monday.
Nagorno-Karabakh residents voted Sunday in a referendum on the
republic’s constitution, to reaffirm the predominantly Armenian
region’s independence from Azerbaijan. More than 100 international
observers and journalists from Russia, France, the United States,
Italy, Israel, Serbia and other countries monitored the referendum.
According to preliminary results, "A total of 78,389 voters (87%)
out of 89,044 eligible voters participated in the poll, with 77,279
people, or 98.58% of the electorate, casting their ballots in favor
of the constitution, while 549 people or 0.7% voted against it,"
said Sergei Nasibyan, the chairman of the central election commission.
Nasibyan said there was no voter turnout threshold at the referendum,
but according to the unrecognized republic’s legislation, at least
one-third of registered voters were required to vote in favor of the
constitution for it to be adopted.
"December 10 can be regarded as Nagorno-Karabakh Constitution
Day," Nasibyan said, adding that the commission will announce the
referendum’s final results on December 13.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh first erupted in 1988 when it
declared its independence from Azerbaijan, and moved to join Armenia.
Over 30,000 people were killed on both sides in fighting between 1988
and 1994, and over 100 died following a 1994 ceasefire.
Nagorno-Karabakh remained in Armenian hands, but tensions between
Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.
The Azerbaijani leadership is determined to restore its control over
the separatist region.