AZG Armenian Daily #240, 15/12/2006

Karabakh diary

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM IN NAGORNO KARABAKH STILL IN CENTER OF
EVERYBODY’S ATTENTION

US Congressmen Congratulate NKR People, While State Department
Expresses Regret

The results of the Constitutional Referendum in Nagorno Karabakh were
officially published. Thus, the total number of electors was 90
thousand 77 people. 78 thousand 389 people received ballots. 77
thousand 279 people voted "for," while 554 voted "against."

Though few days passed after the referendum, number of various
organizations continue making statements or giving evaluations to the
referendum. In particular, Peter Semneby, EU representative in the
South Caucasus, expressed regret in connection with the constitutional
referendum, emphasizing that the issue of NKR’s status should be
settled through negotiations. The matter concerns the basic principle
existing in each referendum, which announces the state object that
hold the referendum as an independent democratic legal state.

According to "The Voice of America," Edgar Waskes, representative of
the US State Department, explained the reasons for the regret
concerning the constitutional referendum. He said that Armenia and
Azerbaijan discuss the very future status of Nagorno Karabakh in the
negotiations, and the referendum doom that process, proceeding from
this the referendum can’t be acknowledged. At the same time, he agreed
with the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs who said that the referendum
doesn’t hinder the negotiations.

In his turn, US President George Bush stated that the US, Russia and
France will spare no efforts to conduct effective negotiations with
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan directed to the brief and
peaceful settlement of the conflict. Bush called for Armenia and
Azerbaijan to find ways for mutual trust.

It’s worth mentioning that at the same time, Fred Pallong and Joe
Knollenberg, co chairs of the Congress Committee for Armenian Issues,
as well as congressmen Adam Schiff and George Rodanovic congratulated
the NKR people with the adoption of their own constitution.

By Aghavni Harutyunian