ARKADY GHUKASIAN RATES REACTION ON KARABAKH REFERENDUM AS ILLOGICAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 15:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU statement on the constitutional referendum in
Karabakh should not be perceived as negative attitude to democratic
processes in Karabakh, said EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby upon completion of the meeting with NKR
President Arkady Ghukasian. He remarked that according to assessment
of the international community, the level of democracy in Nagorno
Karabakh, however referendum carries some principal elements that
should be settled during the talks. "It specifically refers to Nagorno
Karabakh’s status," he underscored.

For his part Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian expressed
satisfaction with the meeting dedicated to discussion of serious topics
such as the constitutional referendum and the EU’s reaction on it.

"The EU’s reaction seems illogical to me. What does it mean to
recognize or not recognize the outcomes of the referendum or the
Constitution?" the NKR leader said.

In his opinion, here one should speak of the essence of
the Constitution or compare the Constitution of NKR and
Azerbaijan. "Comparison would be useful for both sides. They could
derive something for themselves and it would be beneficial for us
as well, since we would appreciate a dialogue with a democratic
state," he said. According to the NKR President the reaction of the
international community on the referendum is directly connected with
Azerbaijan’s policy. He emphasized that the international community
should promote democratic processes in Nagorno Karabakh and this will
have a positive impact on the talks.

"Negative reaction jeopardizes the negotiation process. With adoption
of the Constitution we inform the international community of principles
and goals of people of Karabakh," Ghukasian said. At that he reminded
that in summer 2007 presidential election will be held in Karabakh
and asked Peter Semneby whether the election will receive a similar
reaction.

In Ghukasian’s words, Mr Semneby answered that conduction of election
is very important and the presidential election should not arouse
the same (negative) reaction. The NKR President also informed that
the EU Envoy is going to visit Nagorno Karabakh in January 2007,
reports IA Regnum.