"THE LATER KARABAKH CONFLICT IS SETTLED THE LESS WE SHALL BENEFIT"
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[04:32 pm] 23 July, 2007
"The NKR presidential elections come to prove that the NKR is a more
democratic country than Armenia," All-Armenian Party member Aram
Manukyan said at the "Hayeli" Club on July 23.
His opponent was Republican Gagik Manasyan, the Chair of the NA
Standing Committee on Financial-Credit.
According to Aram Manukyan the NKR presidential elections were held
successfully without major incidents. "I wish the figures weren’t
fabricated, and Karabakh had so many residents," Aram Manukyan said.
It is noteworthy that Aram Manukyan supported Bako Sahakyan’s
candidature.
He stated election frauds were namely apparent during the pre-election
period. The administrative levers were abused; even the district heads
were instructed to support Bako Sahakyan who enjoyed the authorities’
support to the full.
The successful conduct of the NKR elections ensures favorable
conditions for the Karabakh conflict resolution.
"Arkadi Ghukasyan can live in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic without
further fear. Whereas Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan cannot
stay in Armenia after the upcoming presidential elections," said Aram
Maunkyan. His opponent Gagik Minasyan opposed to this statement. In
answer to Minasyan’s objection, Manukyan said, "We shall live and see."
Gagik Minasyan attended 10 electoral districts in the NKR and assured
that the figures correspond to the reality, 80% of eligible voters
participated in the elections.
As for European structures’ rough stance to the NKR elections,
Republican Minasyan said, "Their stance is quite logical as they
consider the NKR an Azeri territory. Besides, they think that the
Kosovo conflict is specific and cannot serve a precedent for other
conflicts," Minasyan said.
Aram Manukyan was of different opinion. He found it needless to
draw parallels between Kosovo and Karabakh. "The international
community supports Kosovo’s independence. Only Russia is against
it. We have no proponents in the Karabakh issue. The rough stance
of European structures is natural as Armenia follows Russia’s model
while announcing at different meetings that we endorse European
principles. In fact we consider European principles to be dogmas,"
Manukyan said.
"The later the Karabakh conflict is settled the less we shall benefit,"
Mr Manukyan concluded.