KAREL DE GUCHT: OSCE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE REFERENDUM HELD IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 11 2006

"OSCE will not recognize the referendum on a draft constitution held
in Nagorno-Karabakh," the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign
Minister Karel De Gucht said, OSCE Baku Office told the APA.

"Such a referendum is counter-productive to the ongoing conflict
settlement process, which has recently shown visible progress, as
acknowledged by the parties," said Minister De Gucht. "We do not
welcome a move that could jeopardize progress made at this promising
juncture," he said. "A reason not to recognize this referendum is
that no member of the international community recognizes the so-called
Nagorno-Karabakh republic as an independent state."