Azerbaijan’s Breakaway Karabakh Holds Referendum On Constitution

AZERBAIJAN’S BREAKAWAY KARABAKH HOLDS REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTION

RIA Novosti, Russia
December 10, 2006

YEREVAN, December 10 (RIA Novosti) – Azerbaijan’s breakaway province of
Nagorno-Karabakh is voting Sunday in a referendum on its constitution.

The conflict over Nagorny Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan with a
largely Armenian population, first erupted in 1988 when it declared
its independence from Azerbaijan, and moved to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people were killed on both sides between 1988 and 1994,
and over 100 died following a 1994 ceasefire. Nagorno-Karabakh remained
in Armenian hands, but tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have
persisted. Azerbaijan is determined to restore its control over the
separatist region.

More than 100 international observers and journalists from Russia,
France, the United States, Italy, Israel, Serbia and other countries
are monitoring the referendum.