REFERENDUM EVALUATED BY OBSERVERS
Svetlana Khachatrian

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
14 Dec 2006

The delegations of observers from the Moldavian Republic of
Transdnyestr, the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of
Abkhazia shared their impressions in a news conference. Ljubomir
Ribjak, member of the Transdnyestr parliament, said they were one of
the first observers to arrive earlier so they had a possibility to
follow the preparations. Two days before the referendum L. Ribjak
and Claudia Treskova had visited a number of villages and reported
100 percent readiness to hold a referendum. In a village, he said, a
woman gave us a hug after she learned that we are from Transdnyestr. I
was amazed that not only in Stepanakert but also in a remote village
they know about Transdnyestr, he said. Ljubomir Ribjak stated that
the outcome the referendum is another expression of the will of NKR to
be free and independent. The deputy foreign minister of the Republic
of South Ossetia Allan Pliyev said they observed the referendum in
Stepanakert, Martuni and Martakert, followed the voting and talked
to voters. He stated that the people of Karabakh made a free vote. He
said they did not see a reason why the outcome of the referendum should
not be recognized. "Starting with this moment Karabakh completed the
establishment of the state," he said. Galust Trapizonyan, member of
the Abkhazian parliament said he had visited several polling stations
in Stepanakert, Shushi, and n oticed the activity of voters. December
10 is the international day of protection of human rights. On the
same day the people of Karabakh upheld their right to be independent
by this referendum, said the Abkhazian observer.