KARABAKH LEADER AGAIN RULES OUT THIRD TERM
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Feb 21 2007

Arkady Ghukasian, president of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR), insisted on Wednesday that he will step down after
completing his second term in office this summer, angrily rebutting
media claims to the contrary.

Ghukasian, in power since 1997, announced last October that he will
not stand in the next presidential election which is expected to take
place this July. He cited the need to boost Karabakh’s democratic
image abroad as well as a law that bars him from seeking a third
five-year term.

Still, commentators in Stepanakert and Yerevan have suggested that
the adoption of the disputed region’s first-ever constitution in a
controversial December referendum allows Ghukasian to circumvent this
restriction by declaring a new countdown of presidential tenures.

Some Armenian newspapers have persistently claimed that he is bent
on holding on to power.

Ghukasian condemned such speculation as an "incurable illness" which he
said is damaging Karabakh’s democratic credentials and international
reputation. He said that the NKR constitution does allow him to seek
a third term and that he has been asked to again run for president
by many ordinary people, prominent public figures and unnamed "famous
foreign diplomats."

"But a president respecting himself can not say one thing today and
another tomorrow," added the Karabakh leader. "While expressing my
deep gratitude to those citizens of our republic and foreign friends
who … sincerely want to continue to see me in the post of president,
I once again declare that I do not intend to nominate my candidacy
for the NKR presidency."

Ghukasian also reiterated his earlier statements that his exit will
facilitate international recognition of Karabakh’s secession from
Azerbaijan.

The 49-year-old former journalist has yet to indicate what he plans
to do after leaving office. In an interview with RFE/RL last year,
he said he will not follow the example of other prominent Karabakh
Armenians like Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian and continue his
political activities in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress