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ARTSAKH NEWS DIGEST
July 24, 2007 (# 7)
(Dear Reader, this issue comes to you directly from Artsakh!)
POLITICS
NKR Elects New President
Bako Sahakian, the winner of the July 19 election will become the next
president of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Sahakian, 49, received 85% of
the votes, while his main challenger, Masis Mayilian, obtained 12%. Voter
turnout was over 77% of all registered voters.
An active participant of the Karabakh Liberation Movement, Sahakian joined
the Karabakh self-defense forces in 1990. He subsequently rose to senior
positions in the NKR Defense Army and earned a number of medals, including
Combat Cross 1st Degree, Karabakh's foremost decoration for valor in combat.
>From 1999 to 2001, Sahakian served as Minister of Internal Affairs and from
2001 until last month he headed the National Security Service. He holds a
law degree from the Artsakh State University and is married with two
children.
More than 100 international observers from the United States, Europe and CIS
countries monitored the voting process. The observers' assessments
universally indicated that the elections were free, fair and democratic.
American observers said the election was on par with the NKR Constitution
and international standards. Vladimir Matic, head of the American monitoring
group, stated they would issue a report on the NKR election for the U.S.
Congress and other organizations. (The report will soon be available at
www.publicinternationallaw.org <http://www.publicinternationallaw.org>)
Foreign Minister Luis Amado of Portugal, the current holder of the EU
presidency, reaffirmed the EU full support for the OSCE efforts to mediate
in the Nagorno Karabakh dispute. He hopes for a complete and rapid
resolution of the conflict.
Matthew Bryza, the U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, stated that to
help resolve the Karabakh conflict, U.S. looking for a compromise between
the principles of territorial integrity and people's right to
self-determination and "there's no universal formula to do that."
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, speaking with the German Der Spiegel
magazine, once again ruled out the possibility of Karabakh's subordination
to Azerbaijan. Kocharian said that he foresees NKR as part of an
"asymmetrical confederation" with Armenia.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
The American University of Armenia launched a development program in Artsakh
aimed at the growth of small and medium-size businesses in rural areas. The
program provided grants and loans to help develop tourism infrastructure. As
a result, several small hotels were constructed in the villages of Chartar,
Ashan, Badara and Mets Taghlar in various districts of NKR. (More about
investments and tourism in Karabakh at <http://www.ada.nk.am>)
SOCIETY
In a good faith gesture and to help build trust between the two nations, the
Shushi Revival Fund has invited Azeri organizations to join the restoration
of the Shushi Mosque. The Ghazanchetsots All-Saints Armenian Church in
Shushi was turned into an ammunition depot by Azeri military forces which
held the town until May 1992. The church was restored several years ago with
the help from Armenian organizations and individuals (More about the
foundation at www.shoushi.org <http://www.shoushi.org/>)
***
We would like to hear from you. Just reply to this email with your comments
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Commen ts>. Thanks!
***
ARTSAKH NEWS DIGEST is a publication of the NKR Office.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in
Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the public
representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Artsakh. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. Government
under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is
available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330 Fax: (202) 315-3339
Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Web: www.nkrusa.org <http://www.nkrusa.org>
July 24, 2007 (# 7)
(Dear Reader, this issue comes to you directly from Artsakh!)
POLITICS
NKR Elects New President
Bako Sahakian, the winner of the July 19 election will become the next
president of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Sahakian, 49, received 85% of
the votes, while his main challenger, Masis Mayilian, obtained 12%. Voter
turnout was over 77% of all registered voters.
An active participant of the Karabakh Liberation Movement, Sahakian joined
the Karabakh self-defense forces in 1990. He subsequently rose to senior
positions in the NKR Defense Army and earned a number of medals, including
Combat Cross 1st Degree, Karabakh's foremost decoration for valor in combat.
>From 1999 to 2001, Sahakian served as Minister of Internal Affairs and from
2001 until last month he headed the National Security Service. He holds a
law degree from the Artsakh State University and is married with two
children.
More than 100 international observers from the United States, Europe and CIS
countries monitored the voting process. The observers' assessments
universally indicated that the elections were free, fair and democratic.
American observers said the election was on par with the NKR Constitution
and international standards. Vladimir Matic, head of the American monitoring
group, stated they would issue a report on the NKR election for the U.S.
Congress and other organizations. (The report will soon be available at
www.publicinternationallaw.org <http://www.publicinternationallaw.org>)
Foreign Minister Luis Amado of Portugal, the current holder of the EU
presidency, reaffirmed the EU full support for the OSCE efforts to mediate
in the Nagorno Karabakh dispute. He hopes for a complete and rapid
resolution of the conflict.
Matthew Bryza, the U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, stated that to
help resolve the Karabakh conflict, U.S. looking for a compromise between
the principles of territorial integrity and people's right to
self-determination and "there's no universal formula to do that."
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, speaking with the German Der Spiegel
magazine, once again ruled out the possibility of Karabakh's subordination
to Azerbaijan. Kocharian said that he foresees NKR as part of an
"asymmetrical confederation" with Armenia.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
The American University of Armenia launched a development program in Artsakh
aimed at the growth of small and medium-size businesses in rural areas. The
program provided grants and loans to help develop tourism infrastructure. As
a result, several small hotels were constructed in the villages of Chartar,
Ashan, Badara and Mets Taghlar in various districts of NKR. (More about
investments and tourism in Karabakh at <http://www.ada.nk.am>)
SOCIETY
In a good faith gesture and to help build trust between the two nations, the
Shushi Revival Fund has invited Azeri organizations to join the restoration
of the Shushi Mosque. The Ghazanchetsots All-Saints Armenian Church in
Shushi was turned into an ammunition depot by Azeri military forces which
held the town until May 1992. The church was restored several years ago with
the help from Armenian organizations and individuals (More about the
foundation at www.shoushi.org <http://www.shoushi.org/>)
***
We would like to hear from you. Just reply to this email with your comments
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Commen ts>. Thanks!
***
ARTSAKH NEWS DIGEST is a publication of the NKR Office.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in
Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the public
representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Artsakh. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. Government
under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is
available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330 Fax: (202) 315-3339
Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Web: www.nkrusa.org <http://www.nkrusa.org>