PROVOCATIVE REFERENDUM IN KARABAGH
By Faruk Akkan, Cihan News Agency, Moscow
Zaman Online, Turkey
Dec 10 2006
The Nagorno Karabagh region, the separatist Azerbaijani territory
under Armenian occupation, held an independence referendum Sunday.
The referendum can be compared to those in Moldova’s Transdinyester
and Georgia’s South Ossetia regions.
Azeri foreign minister Elmar Mehmedyarov called the referendum a
disappointing move for the attempts to maintain peace in the region.
The minister warned that any referendum held prior to the return of
the Azeri population removed from the region since the occupation
would not be fair and legitimate.
Pro-Western GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) countries
criticized the Karabagh referendum. The jointly issued statement
raised concerns that the referendum would deteriorate the overall
situation in the region.
Recalling that the referendum had no legal basis, the statement
further noted that it would constitute a beach under Azerbaijan’s
constitution and international law.
After a meeting in Minsk, Azeri and Armenian leaders had announced
their optimism about peace. This referendum held at a time when
prospects for a workable peace were most likely since the truce accord
of 1994 raises serious concerns.
The Nagorno Karabagh region declared de facto independence from
Azerbaijan after the dissolution of Soviet bloc in 1990. With its own
army, flag, and government, the region acts like and independent state.
The international community recognizes the region as part of
Azerbaijan. Russia has often threatened that if regions seeking
independence through referendums were not recognized by the United
Nations, it would veto Kosovo’s attempt to declare independence in
the U.N. Security Council.
Roughly 140,000 Armenian residents in Karabagh depend on financial
aid of the Armenian diaspora in Russia and Western countries.
No significant progress has been in the region since the truce.
People have trouble meeting fundamental needs, such as heating,
shelter and food.
The armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan erupted in the late
1980s. While more than 35,000 died in the fighting, nearly 1,000,000
Azeri had to migrate from the region. The refugees are trying to
survive in camps under dire conditions and are looking forward to
return to their homes.