DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 10 2007

NKR PRESIDENT: TRADITION OF POWER’S CIVILIZED DELEGATION SHOULD BE
ESTABLISHED IN KARABAGH

The Nagorno-Karabagh Republic President Arkady Ghoukassian stated
after tendering the President’s resignations he would stay in the
Nagorno-Karabagh and help the next President and government, if
necessary, Arkady Ghoukassian stated at a meeting with professorial
staff and students of the Artsakh State University held March 7, DE
FACTO own correspondent in Stepanakert reports.
Arkady Ghoukassian noted the NKR Constitution gave him legal basis to
seek the third term; however, moral side was more important for him.
`’New traditions should be established in Karabagh, first of all the
power’s civilized delegation”, the President underscored. He stated
he had decided not to seek the third term long ago, as `’some things
cannot be overstepped”.
Arkady Ghoukassian refrained from answering a question concerning his
political successor, noting the people were to choose. `’Sure, I have
my own sympathies and antipathies, however, there will not be a
successor, there will be policy’s succession”, the NKR head stated.
In this connection Arkady Ghoukassian underscored the course targeted
at the development of democracy in Nagorno-Karabagh should be
resumed, noting, `’the international community can recognize only
democratic NKR”. In his words, Nagorno-Karabagh was on the verge of
dictatorship not long ago, but they managed to build a state, where
`’a man lives freely, without fear”. He remarked Nagorno-Karabagh
should not be compared with Azerbaijan, where power passes from a
father to his son. `’Democracy and Azerbaijan are antagonists. We
have no right to be compared with Azerbaijan, we should attain to the
level of the European countries”, the NKR head said.
Speaking of the Karabagh conflict settlement process, Arkady
Ghoukassian stated Nagorno-Karabagh was ready for compromises, which,
however, cannot touch its basic principles, first of all
independence. `’We know what we can concede and what we cannot,
however, brackets should not be opened in diplomacy”, the President
said. In his words, `’a political decision assumes a compromise,
however, if it will prejudice our interest, we’ll not meet half-way”.