RA MFA: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN NKR ARE KARABAGH PEOPLE’S SOVEREIGN DECISION

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 18 2007

Presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabagh Republic are Karabagh
people’s sovereign decision, RA MFA Acting Spokesman Vladimir
Karapetian told Novosti-Armenia Agency.

‘~RTo hold Presidential elections in the Nagorno-Karabagh is Karabagh
people’s sovereign decision, and it is natural that we support steps
targeted at NKR’s further democratization’~R, he said commenting
Turkish MFA statement concerning non recognition of Presidential
elections in NKR.

Karapetian noted Karabagh people had the right to decide their fate
by choosing democratic way of development. In his words, they will
choose their President themselves, the way they held Parliamentary
elections in 2005 and a referendum, on the results of which NKR
Constitution was adopted in December, 2006.

The Presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabagh will be held current
July 19. 5 nominees will run for the post – ex Director of the NKR
National Security Bako Sahakian, Deputy FM Masis Mailian, a deputy
of NKR National Assembly Armen Abgarian, a lecturer of the Artsakh
State University, professor Vania Avanesian and Karabagh Communist
Party leader Hrant Melkoumian.