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NAGORNO-KARABAKH HOLDS ELECTIONS
by Matthew Collin
BBC News, Stepanakert
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/ world/europe/6905670.stm
Published: 2007/07/19 00:43:15 GMT
People in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh are voting in
presidential elections, which they hope will further their aim of
independence.
But Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan, which has condemned the
polls as illegal.
Azeri and Armenian forces fought a bitter war over the territory in
the 1990s, which left some 30,000 people dead.
No country recognises the independence of the breakaway region.
Nagorno-Karabakh wants to prove it could become an independent,
democratic state.
But this tiny, mountainous region is still the subject of a bitter
dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, more than a decade after
the ceasefire.
Armenian forces won the war and now control Nagorno-Karabakh, after
the Azeri population fled and years of negotiations have failed to
deliver a peace deal.
Unrecognized poll
One of the candidates for president, Bako Sahakian, says the election
will demonstrate the democratic progress Nagorno-Karabakh has made.
"It is the most civilised way towards building democracy and civil
society.
It is the best and the most progressive way to build a state. We will
try to do everything possible to get the international community to
recognise Nagorno-Karabakh.", Bako Sahakian says.
But Azerbaijan says the elections are being held by a separatist
regime which was established by ethnic cleansing.
The Azeri foreign ministry spokesman, Khazar Ibrahim, says they are
effectively meaningless.
"These are so-called elections conducted by the illegal regime which
has basically occupied this region of Azerbaijan. These so-called
elections have no legal effect because they contradict the norms and
principles of international law," he said.
While Azerbaijan says Nagorno-Karabakh must not be allowed to break
away.
Armenia insists the region has the right to choose its own destiny.
The results of these elections are unlikely to bring a peaceful
solution any closer.
by Matthew Collin
BBC News, Stepanakert
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/ world/europe/6905670.stm
Published: 2007/07/19 00:43:15 GMT
People in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh are voting in
presidential elections, which they hope will further their aim of
independence.
But Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan, which has condemned the
polls as illegal.
Azeri and Armenian forces fought a bitter war over the territory in
the 1990s, which left some 30,000 people dead.
No country recognises the independence of the breakaway region.
Nagorno-Karabakh wants to prove it could become an independent,
democratic state.
But this tiny, mountainous region is still the subject of a bitter
dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, more than a decade after
the ceasefire.
Armenian forces won the war and now control Nagorno-Karabakh, after
the Azeri population fled and years of negotiations have failed to
deliver a peace deal.
Unrecognized poll
One of the candidates for president, Bako Sahakian, says the election
will demonstrate the democratic progress Nagorno-Karabakh has made.
"It is the most civilised way towards building democracy and civil
society.
It is the best and the most progressive way to build a state. We will
try to do everything possible to get the international community to
recognise Nagorno-Karabakh.", Bako Sahakian says.
But Azerbaijan says the elections are being held by a separatist
regime which was established by ethnic cleansing.
The Azeri foreign ministry spokesman, Khazar Ibrahim, says they are
effectively meaningless.
"These are so-called elections conducted by the illegal regime which
has basically occupied this region of Azerbaijan. These so-called
elections have no legal effect because they contradict the norms and
principles of international law," he said.
While Azerbaijan says Nagorno-Karabakh must not be allowed to break
away.
Armenia insists the region has the right to choose its own destiny.
The results of these elections are unlikely to bring a peaceful
solution any closer.