GHUKASSIAN: THERE IS NOTHING MORE PRECIOUS FOR ME THAN HIGH INTERNATIONAL IMAGE OF NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.02.2007 13:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Arkadi
Ghukassian addressed to the NKR people in connection with coming
presidential elections. In his message A. Ghukassian particularly said:
"Unfortunately, some mass media of the Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia
go on speculating on my possible nomination for the presidency,
however, the issue was closed long ago. In particular, there were
made attempts to present my last statement on expediency of the
acting president’s reelection to the third term from the political
and moral viewpoints as a game that had allegedly been planned to
dull public opinion. Similar actions can just harm the image of the
Nagorno-Karabakh as a state adherent to the European values. Moreover,
such speculations bring unnecessary nervousness to our society and
contribute to its split. To avoid unhealthy false rumors, concerning
my intentions for the future, I considered it necessary to make a
statement last year in October that would remove all the questions,
concerning my possible nomination to a third presidential term.

However, a statement made by the NKR President was not enough for
some mass media and politician elements.

They obviously believe the President should confirm his refusal
to ballot again, provoking him to make similar steps by their
insinuations. Naturally, one can ignore the unworthy conduct of these
persons, but for the fact that their actions harm our society.

The people resort to various actions to slander the President. Any
event in the state and outside, immediately connected with my name,
presented by them as alleged confirmation of the acting President’s
hidden intentions to participate again in the elections of the
state’s head.

Meanwhile, NKR ordinary citizens, representatives of various political
and public organizations, state employees, MPs, our compatriots in
Armenia and other countries, Artsakh’s friends in abroad, as well
as famous foreign diplomats, politicians, political scientists and
philanthropists apply every day to me with a request to stand for
the presidency at the forthcoming presidential elections, as the
NKR Constitution, adopted by our people, gives similar opportunity to
acting head of the state. However, the President, who respects himself,
cannot speak one thing today and another thing tomorrow. Expressing
my deep gratitude to all citizens of our Republic and our friends
in abroad, who support domestic and foreign policy I conduct and
sincerely wish to see me as the President in future as well, I state
again, that I am not intending to run for President.

Nevertheless, being aware of the conduct manner of political
speculators and mass media that serve them, I’m almost sure, that
my today’s statement will not put an end to unhealthy talks on the
given subject.

Nothing can be done with it: it seems, we deal here with a cureless
disease. I am just sorry for these people.

I repeat again: the most precious value for me is high international
image of my Motherland – the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, without which
the NKR recognition by the international community is impossible."