Russian MP visits Nagornyy Karabakh Republic ahead of parliament
polls
Artsakh Public TV, Stepanakert
18 May 05
[Presenter over video of meeting] The NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic]
president, Arkadiy Gukasyan, on 18 May received Konstantin Zatulin,
deputy of the Russian Sate Duma and director of the Russian Institute
of CIS [and Diaspora] Studies. They discussed the current stage of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement, the social, economic and
political situation in the NKR and some other issues.
Zatulin noted obvious positive changes in the political, economic
and social spheres in Nagornyy Karabakh.
After the meeting, Mr Zatulin gave an interview to Karabakh
journalists. Konstantin Zatulin said the following:
[Zatulin] The purpose of my visit to Nagornyy Karabakh is to get more
information about the situation in the NKR on the eve of parliamentary
elections [due on 19 June] and to see my old friends.
As far as I have seen, the election campaign has not gone beyond
the boundaries of a civil process and it differs much from that in
Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. I am confident that the elections will be
transparent, free and democratic and the strongest will win. I think
that parliamentary elections are a very important event.
Concerning the life in Karabakh in general, I think that the people
of Karabakh have not only proven their rights but have also ensured a
dynamic development, for example in the political, economic and public
life. This is a very positive thing. You do not need Azerbaijan’s
approval of what you are doing because their reaction in general
is negative.
As to the negotiating process and especially the latest meeting between
[Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev and [Armenian President Robert]
Kocharyan, which is now full of legends, eventually, the last say
belongs to the people of Karabakh and the people have already expressed
their will. As to the position of the Russian Federation, I would like
to underline that Russia, being a co-sponsor of the negotiations and
a co-chairman of the [OSCE] Minsk Group, is a guarantor of a peaceful
settlement to the conflict and does not support revanchism. President
Putin does not want to impose any models of settlement. I hope that
the people of Nagornyy Karabakh will understand that the Russian
position is in the interests of the people of Nagornyy Karabakh.