NKR FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGY PETROSSIAN’S COMMENTARY ON NKR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

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[06:10 pm] 23 April, 2007

Mr. Minister, how will you comment the statement of the CE Committee of
Ministers, Foreign Minister of San Marino Fiorenzo Stolfi concerning
the information that the forthcoming elections in Nagorno Karabakh
cannot create favorable conditions for the conflict settlement since
they predetermine the region’s status?

The statement of the Chairman of the CE Committee of Ministers denotes
once more that the European officials of even such high level are
poorly aware of the Karabakh conflict’s essence and process.

Representatives of different European structures try to compensate
this gap by using stereotyped answers, as Foreign Minister of San
Marino Fiorenzo Stolfi did.

However, similar standard approach to the Karabakh problem as a whole,
and the process of civil society building in the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in particular, which has recently become established in the
international structures is counterproductive and dangerous. The
indulgence to the caprices of the Azerbaijani side, which is more
often demonstrated by the European officials, can be perceived as an
attempt to bring Nagorno Karabakh back to the past. In connection with
this, I would like to remind Mr. Fiorenzo Stolfi that any attempts
to deprive the people of Nagorno Karabakh of the right to democratic
development and civil society strengthening are condemned to failure.

Under the conditions of democracy the elections are crucial institute
of demonstrating political role of the people as the source of
power. The forthcoming presidential elections in the NKR are not
an exception. They cannot impact the Karabakh conflict settlement
process and cannot predetermine Nagorno Karabakh’s status, as their
main function is to form power through democratic mechanisms. The
NKR’s status was determined by the will of people of Nagorno Karabakh
at December 10, 1991 referendum in conformity with the norms of the
international law and the national legislation which was in force
during that period.

It should be noted that we have repeatedly invited the representatives
of various European structures to visit Nagorno Karabakh and get
acquainted with the situation on-site to overcome the stereotypes
and cliches, which have become established among European officials
regarding Nagorno Karabakh.