CE DECLARATION: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN KARABAKH NOT TO CONTRIBUTE TO SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 16 2007

YEREVAN, July 16. /ARKA/. The presidential elections to be held in
Karabakh cannot contribute to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, runs the Declaration of the Chair of the Council of Europe’s
Committee of Ministers on the "presidential elections" to be held in
Nagorno-Karabakh on 19 July 2007.

"The Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers notes with concern
that conducting such "elections", thus pre-empting the outcome of
the ongoing negotiations, cannot contribute to the resolution of the
conflict," runs the Declaration given to "ARKA" in the information
office of the Council of Europe.

Taking into account that neither the "elections" nor their results
are recognized by the international community, the Chairmanship of
the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe reiterates its
full support to the OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairmen in their
efforts towards a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Committee of Ministers calls on all parties concerned to
intensify their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict,
in accordance with the commitment undertaken by Armenia and Azerbaijan
upon accession to the CE.

At present the CEC of the NKR recorded five presidential candidates
– Bako Sahakyan (Head of the NKR National Security Service), Masis
Mailyan (NKR Deputy Foreign Minister), Armen Abgaryan (NKR National
Assembly MP), Vanya Avanesyan (Lecturer in Artsakh State University)
and Hrant Melkumyan (candidate of the NKR Communist Party).