NKR CENTRAL COMMISSION ON REFERENDUM APPEALED TO VOTERS

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
11 Dec 2006

The NKR Central Commission on Referendum has released a message
and called the voters to go to polling stations on December 10
and make a free and acknowledged vote for the NKR Constitution,
for the adoption of the Constitution of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
is an important stage in the establishment of our independent state
and promotion of democracy, runs the message. "The organizers of the
preparation and conduct of the referendum, including the NKR Central
Commission on Referendum and the divisional committees made maximum
efforts to solve all the technical and organizational problems in
preparing and holding the referendum. The referendum commissions
are ready to conduct the most responsible stage of the referendum,
the voting and the roundup, openly and publicly, in compliance with
the NKR Electoral Code and the NKR Law on Referendum. The voters,
as well as the local and international observers and reporters who
will observe the referendum and cover the conduct and results of the
popular voting will witness this."

THE STATEMENT OF GROUPS AND FACTIONS OF NKR PARLIAMENT

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
11 Dec 2006

On December 10, 2006 a referendum on the adoption of Constitution will
be held in Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Over the past years about 500
laws have been adopted, including constitutional laws. It is time
to set down the real basis for public order, organization of the
society, the relations of person and state. The analysis of 15 years
of experience of NKR as an independent state, which survived through
the war that was imposed on it, the success as well as difficulty
of the reform of the society and settlement of economic problems
show that there is no alternative to the track it has taken. The
basis of a democratic society and free market economy was created
in a short period of history. The system of public administration,
democratization and promotion of political reforms, the development
and strengthening of the principles and mechanisms of market economy,
the reform of the legal basis, establishment of the institutions
of civil society, the adoption of the European principles of local
government are the result of the path we have already passed. The
presidential, parliamentary and local elections, which preceded the
constitutional referendum, were a serious test on mature democracy,
commitment to free and transparent elections compliant with European
principles and proved that the line adopted by NKR is irreversible. The
characteristic feature of the development of the state is the urge
of the society for renovation. In this respect, the referendum on
December 10 will become a logical summary of the stage of political
self-organization of the society, which started 15 years ago and was
marked by the expression of the will of people in connection with the
independence. The adoption of the Constitution of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic is the imperative of the time. It will enable not only to
set down the basic principles of sovereignty in the Constitution and
mark the new stage of development of our Republic but will also become
an impetus for the establishment and development of new, more liberal
principles and the civil society. Our people have the right to decide
the fate of the present and future generations by expressing their
will freely, and we expect that the international community, which
upholds the right of nations for self-determination, and principles
of civilized cooperation will appreciate duly the referendum on
the NKR Constitution. The Democratic and Hayrenik factions and the
ARF-Movement 88 Group of the NKR National Assembly made a statement
during the December 6 meeting of the NKR National Assembly.

ARMENIA ARRESTS LEBANESE NATIONAL OVER PLANNED COUP

MOSNEWS, Russia
Dec 11 2006

Armenian authorities detained the head of a public organization
accusing him of plotting a coup attempt, the Reuters news reports.

Lebanon citizen Zhirair Sefilian, who heads For Protection of Liberated
Territories organization, was detained on charges of plotting to
overthrow the government of Armenia and sentenced to deportation,
said Armen Agaian, a leading member of Sefilian’s group.

Agaian has refuted the charges.

An anonymous official at the Armenian National Security Service
confirmed that Sefilian had been arrested but refused to elaborate
on the charges against him.

Sefilian is a veteran of the 1988-94 war in the disputed enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which ended when Armenia-backed separatists drove
out Azerbaijan’s government forces.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FMS EXPECTED TO MEET IN JANUARY

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 11 2006

"I could not meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian in
the 14th meeting of Foreign Ministers’ Council of OSCE countries held
in Brussels because of lack of time," Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov said.

Saying he had met with co-chairs one by one, Mammadyarov noted that
he is expected to meet with Armenian Foreign Minister in January
next year.

The Minister also stated Azerbaijani side tries to settle the problem
peacefully, and believes it, APA reports.

Noting that it is possible to get peace accord with to be elected
Armenia President, the minister stressed that if he did not believe
diplomatic settlement of the conflict, then he would move aside and
let Defense Ministry solve the problem.

"Military settlement of the conflicts does not favor, because it can
harm our economic potential. But, there is still an uncoordinated item
between the sides. If we could agree, the problem will be settled,"
he said.

The minister did not give any information about the item saying
that it is confidential. Speaking about the legal status of Nagorno
Karabakh, the minister noted that Azerbaijani side will not give up
its principles.

"We do not change our opinion and consider that, this problem should
be solved in the frame of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh should be given the highest Autonomy status," the
Minister said.

URL:

ARMENIAN MPS DEMONSTRATE DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON TALKS OF AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS – HEAD OF AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION AT PACE
Author: A.Ismayilova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Dec 11 2006

MP Samad Seyidov, the head of the Azerbaijani Delegation at the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said on
December 11, that Armenian MPs demonstrate different approaches on
the talks on the level of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Trend
reports. He was commenting the Armenian delegation refuse from the
participation in PACE Political Committee Meeting in Baku on December
11, 2006 in Baku.

MP Seyidov said that the CE insisted on the participation of
Armenia at a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Media in Baku and
they refused. The same was repeated at this meeting and it actually
testifies Armenian non-constructive position.

OBSERVER FROM ITALY: REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH WAS HELD PURSUANT TO ALL STANDARDS

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Dec 11 2006

A referendum on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s first Draft
Constitution was held in the NKR December 10.

According to the preliminary data, 83, 71% of the electors participated
in the voting. To note, 89, 044 people were in the voting lists.

Today the NKR Central Election Commission will make public the
preliminary result of the voting; while the final results must be
summed up during 72 hours after the electoral districts are closed.

Over a hundred international observers and media’s representatives
followed the referendum’s conduct.

At a briefing held for journalists the day before a group of the
European observers noted, "the referendum has been conducted correctly,
and we have no serious remarks on its organization".

In part, an observer from Italy, head of the International League for
the Rights and Liberation of Peoples Luciano Ardesi underscored the
referendum had been held pursuant to all the recognized norms. In
his words, the Nagorno-Karabakh people have the right to free
express their will. "What the Nagorno-Karabakh people have done
today is legitimate. The international community should recognize the
Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right either to establish their own state,
or to join Armenia", Luciano Ardesi stated.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE U.S. LARGE CIRCLES ABOUT NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS NOT AT NECESSARY LEVEL
Author: A.Mammadova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Dec 11 2006

"Today the USA is a strong country of the world and the co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as the country where Armenian lobby is
very active. Therefore, Azerbaijan should strengthen its position
by introducing its large cultural heritage to the USA," the MP of
Azerbaijani, Ganira Pashayeva, said, commenting on the visit of
the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan headed by the President
of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Good-Will Ambassador of UNESCO,
Mehriban Aliyeva.

According to Pashayeva, the knowledge of the large circles of the
USA about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not at the necessary
level. "I consider that it is necessary to hold events dedicated
to the culture of Nagorno-Karabakh during the anniversaries of the
occupied Azerbaijani lands, which will provide information that
Nagorno-Karabakh is the integral part of Azerbaijan," she said.

In addition, the MP said that it is necessary to publish these
questions in the USA media, and Azerbaijani students and Diasporas
may play a great role in this issue. She said that the students are
very active in this process. "During the visit of Arkadi Gukasyan to
California, five Azerbaijani students made speeches at the meeting
and openly expressed their protest against the false statements of
Gukasyan", Pashayeva said.

"Many talented people live in USA, who may increase the knowledge
of the USA wide circles about Azerbaijan, culture of Azerbaijan,
realities about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and they will be
supported by Azerbaijan," Pashayeva said.

NKR PRESIDENT: CONSTITUTION’S ADOPTION WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Dec 11 2006

"I believe the Constitution’s adoption will have a positive impact
on the Karabakh settlement, as it is in the negotiation process’s
logic", the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghoukassian
told journalists in Stepanakert, while commenting on the conduct
of a referendum on the Republic’s first Constitution in the
Nagorno-Karabakh.

The President underscored the matter concerned the realization of
the right to self-determination. "Democracy is a historic chance for
Nagorno-Karabakh, there is no other way for us. We must be able to
build a democratic state, and from this viewpoint the referendum is
of great importance for us", Arkady Ghoukassian said.

Speaking about the international community’s possible reaction to
the referendum, Arkady Ghoukassian remarked, "we are not isolated
from the world, and I think it will see and estimate the true worth
of the referendum’s conduct". At the same time the President noted
it was possible that "under Azerbaijan’s pressure the international
community may flaunt, making various statements". Arkady Ghoukassian
stated the only way to achieve peace was to recognize the NKR, and
the international community had already realized it.

While commenting on Azerbaijan’s negative response to the referendum,
the NKR President said he had not expected another reaction.

"Azerbaijan is guided by the principle "the worse the better", and
this stand hampers to achieve the progress in the conflict settlement".

The Nagorno-Karabakh head added, "our society is ready for compromises,
however, they cannot be unilateral".

AZERBAIJAN WANTS SPAIN TO SUPPORT EVERY PROGRESS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Author: A.Ismayilova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Dec 11 2006

Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, said in talks
with journalists that he met with the Spanish Foreign Minister
Migel Anhel Martinos in Brussels within the framework of a meeting
of the OSCE Council of Ministers and witnessed his interests in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He was commenting on the fact of chairmanship of Spain at the OSCE
in January 2007.

Mr. Mammadyarov said that he conveyed to Mr. Martinos, that Azerbaijan
wishes to see Spain, as an OSCE chairman-in-office in 2007 and would
like Spain to take interest in the conflict and support any progress
in the process of talks.

JANUARY 2007 MEETING OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS
Author: A.Ismayilova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Dec 11 2006

Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, said in talks with
journalists during the last meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
in Minsk, Belarus, that the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia
were proposed to hold a next meeting at the end of January 2007.

He said that during the last meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenian in Minsk, Armenia asked for a timeout for analysis and
discussions. "A meeting with co-chairs in Minsk has been resolved
and they are waiting for Armenia to reply", said the Foreign Minister.