NKR PRESIDENT: WE HOLD ELECTIONS NOT FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, BUT TO REACH OUR GOALS

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 19 2007

Today, at 8 a. m., electoral districts opened in Nagorno-Karabagh,
where presidential elections are being held. According to the current
data, the voters’ turn-out is 24, 54 %.

Today, answering the journalists’ questions concerning the negative
reaction of a number of international structures to the elections
being held in Nagorno-Karabagh, NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian said,
"We hold elections not for the international community, but to reach
our goals. Let those, who are against elections, against the election
of a new leader of Nagorno-Karabagh, offer their alternative".

Arkady Ghoukassian expressed opinion that presidential elections
would positively influence on the Karabagh conflict settlement
process, underscoring that Nagorno-Karabagh would inevitably become
the talks’ participant. "Otherwise the talks will become senseless",
the President stated.

Commenting on the Kosovo issue settlement, Arkady Ghoukassian noted,
"Nagorno-Karabagh has more arguments to gain independence than
Kosovo. If Kosovo gets independence, it is incomprehensible why
Nagorno-Karabagh cannot do it".