NKR LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT MAY PARTICIPATE IN NKR NEGOTIATIONS

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[03:49 pm] 19 June, 2007

"If presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabakh are conducted
in constructive atmosphere and the standards of democracy are
preserved, the international community will believe that democratic
processes are taking place in Karabakh", stated politician Stepan
Grigoryan. According to him, the democratic processes are more vivid
in NKR than in Azerbaijan. "We should use this, pointing out that the
unit which is not recognized by the international community yet is on
its way to democracy". The politician considers that besides its impact
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the democratic elections
would promote political and economic development in Karabakh. Mr
Grogoryan doubted to say as to what extend the pre-election activities
in the NKR corresponded to the international standards and noted:
"Arkady Gukasyan was not nominated for the third time and it is a
progress. Another progress will be the participation of the NKR in the
negotiation process". An important pre-condition for that will be the
circumstances under which the presidential elections will be conducted.

The politician does not trust the survey results released by Aharon
Adibekyan on the presidential candidates. "People carrying out polling
should not be involved in political activities, while Aharon Adibekyan
is a political figure". Stepan Grigoryan is confirmed that the Prague
Process commenced between Kocharyan and Aliev 3 years ago failed during
the last meeting. "The only news of the meeting was that Azerbaijan
finally rejected the proposal on the referendum. The negotiating
process is in crisis. I fear that it will be terminated for uncertain
period and the format of the OSCE Minsk Group may be altered or the
settlement issue may be tasked to another organization. Unfortunately,
the RA authorities, including the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation
– Dashnaktsutyun" do not understand that the problem should not be
viewed from the historical point since the process is becoming a
debate on territories. I suppose that Kocharyan understood that the
NKR should return to the negotiating process and should not ignore the
principle of self-determination". As to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’
statements, Mr Grigoryan mentioned: "Their countries have not finally
orientated in the Karabakh issue. The world has not decided how to
settle the conflict".