POLL CAMPAIGN STARTS IN KARABAKH

Hurriyet
April 22 2010
Turkey

As the long-standing debate heats up over its legitimacy, the
disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is entering election mode for a
new parliament.

Campaigning officially began earlier this week for the May 23
parliamentary elections in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region,
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s, RFE/RL, Armenian Service reported
on its website.

Four political parties and 45 candidates are vying for 33 seats in the
parliament of the internationally unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been occupied
by Armenian forces since the end of a six-year conflict that left
about 30,000 people dead and displaced 1 million before a truce was
reached in 1994. Its unilateral independence is not recognized by
the international community. The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
have been negotiating on the issue but little progress has been made.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of its close
ally Azerbaijan in the conflict.

Main rivals

The main contenders are the three parties that make up Karabakh’s
de facto governing coalition. One of them, Free Fatherland, is led
by Karabakh’s de facto prime minister, Ara Harutiunian, and has the
largest faction in the current Karabakh legislature.

Also running for seats are the Democratic Artsakh Party of parliament
speaker Ashot Ghulian, and the Karabakh branch of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, or Dashnaktsutyun.

Karabakh’s Central Election Commission Chairman Sergei Nasibian told
RFE/RL that he has pledged to ensure equal campaigning opportunities
and rules for all candidates.

Gegham Baghdasarian, a member of the Karabakh parliament who is
critical of its leadership, said the virtual absence of vocal
government critics in the race makes officials in Stepanakert
interested in holding a free and fair election.

"They face no rival or unfriendly political force or even an
individual," he told RFE/RL. "And in these circumstances, the
authorities can allow a fair competition among their allies and
cronies."

Elections held in the Armenian-controlled disputed region have always
been condemned by Azerbaijan. Major foreign powers have also criticized
the polls, saying their results cannot be deemed legitimate by the
international community as long as the Karabakh conflict remains
unresolved.