CE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS CONSIDERS KARABAKH REFERENDUM UNRECOGNIZABLE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 13 2006

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe expressed its
concern over the so-called "constitutional referendum" held in Dec.10,
2006, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
APA reports.

The Committee stressed that this act violates the relevant norms and
principlaes of international law, and interferes with an ongoing
peace process, The so-called "referendum" and its results shall
have no legal effect and 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
full, equal and direct participation of the entire population of the
region consisting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities.

The statement points out that "constitutional referendum", organized
in Nagorno Karabakh will not be recognized by the Council of Europe.