TURNOUT IN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM EXCEEDS 80%

Interfax, Russia
Dec 10 2006

STEPANAKERT. Dec 10 (Interfax) – The constitutional referendum in
the breakaway republic of Nagorno Karabakh ended on Sunday.

Early reports say the turnout was 83.7% of the 90,000 or so registered
voters, the republic’s election commission said.

A commission spokesman added that tentative results will be announced
on Monday.

Meanwhile, a group of European observers noted that the referendum
had been conducted correctly.

"We have not complaints to make," one of them told the press.

Luciano Ardesi, an observer from Italy and head of the International
League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples, said the referendum
observed all voting standards.

"What the people of Nagorno Karabakh did today is quite legitimate.

The international community must recognize the right of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh to either establish its own state or join Armenia,"
he said.