ARMENIA’S FOREIGN OFFICE WELCOMES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN NKR

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 23 2007

YEREVAN, July 23. /ARKA/. The RA Foreign Office welcomes the
presidential elections held in Nagorno-Karabakh on July 19, 2007.

"This is just one expression of the commitment the people of Nagorno
Karabakh have made to democracy and rule of law. Legitimately elected
authorities have succeeded in securing the safety and stability of
that region even in the absence of a permanent settlement," says a
statement issued by the RA Foreign Office.

"Various OSCE and other international documents clearly indicate that
not only should Nagorno Karabakh be a party to settlement negotiations,
but that their elected authorities should represent them," says the
statement. .

The people of Nagorno Karabakh remain committed to resolving the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict through negotiations to reach a peaceful,
lasting settlement.

"Unlike in other conflicts, in Karabakh, the population has always
had to ensure its own security without the help of the international
community. In the same way, they have also succeeded in securing their
own democratic processes and domestic stability," the statement says

Further, rejection cannot be understood given the fact that in
other areas of the world, in places where final political status
and settlement are also absent, such elections are indeed supported,
promoted, observed and encouraged.

The former Director of the NKR National Security Service Bako Sahakyan
won the presidential election in the NKR. He received 59,326 votes
or 85.12 % of the total number of votes – 92,114. P.T. -0–