KARABAKH PRESIDENT ABOUT STATEMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: "SHOULD I DECLARE MYSELF TURKMENBASHI AND RULE FOR FIFTY YEARS?"

Regnum, Russia
July 19 2007

"I am resigning from the post of Nagorno Karabakh president with
a sense of fulfilled duty," NKR President Arkady Gukasyan announced
today while voting at a polling station in Stepanakert. He also added
that, undoubtedly, he did not manage to do everything.

Commenting on a statement made by a representative of the Council of
Europe that the NKR presidential election would not be recognized,
he said: "If the international community does not recognize electoral
processes in our republic, let them propose an alternative, or should
Gukasyan declare himself Turkmenbashi and rule for fifty years?" The
president added that the NKR is holding the election for the people,
but not for the international community.

As for statements released by Masis Mailyan headquarters on violations
during the election campaign, the president noted that he personally
familiarized with them. According to him, "there is nothing serious
there." "These are just fairytales invented by those filling themselves
defeated. Our opposition often becomes resentful.

Unfortunately, the dirty PR technologies have come to Nagorno Karabakh
and Armenia. Well, we have enough negative things from Turkey and
Azerbaijan," he said.

According to Arkady Gukasyan, next Nagorno Karabakh president will
assume full responsibility for including Nagorno Karabakh in the
negotiation process.