YAP PROTESTS AGAINST RUSSIAN MP’S OBSERVING "PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS" IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 19 2007

The ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) sent a letter to Russian
ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Vasili
Istratov protesting to Russian parliamentarian’s watching the
"presidential elections" held in the so-called Nagorno Karabakh
Republic as an "international observer", the party’s press service
told APA.

The letter notes that leading international organizations – the UN,
Council of Europe, OSCE, European Union, and Organization of Islamic
Conference condemn "presidential elections" in Nagorno Karabakh
occupied by Armenia. The letter regards these "elections" as a step
ignoring international law norms and against peaceful solution to
the conflict.

"No outstanding country has sent an observer to follow the
"presidential elections" held in Nagorno Karabakh. Deputy Chief of
Russian State Duma Organizing and Regulations Committee Sergey Glotov,
as well as representatives of NGOs are observing the elections in the
so-called Nagorno Karabakh Republic. This step of Russian "observers"
contradicts international law and ethic norms," the letter says.

YAP regards the step of State Duma representative as contradicting
strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia, co-chair of OSCE
Minsk Group mediating in the settlement of the conflict.

The party asks Russian relevant bodies to clarify the problem.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress