Tweet
PEOPLE SHOWED THEY LIVE IN A TRUE STATE
Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 June 05
The director of the Institute of CIS Countries, Member of Parliament
of Russian Duma Constantine Zatulin monitored the NKR parliamentary
election on June 19th. In the morning of June 20th he gave a press
conference for the mass media and the observers from different
countries at the press centre of the Central Election Committee. In the
beginning C. Zatulin said he had also monitored the latest presidential
election, and he was in Karabakh a month before, therefore, he is
well-acquainted with the Karabakh issue and the current situation
in the country. Highly evaluating the parliamentary election,
the director of the Institute of CIS Countries said, "Taking into
account that the results of the elections have not been officially
stated yet, I do not want to single out myself, but I would say the
opinions of the observers on the election are mostly similar. In this
poll the people of Nagorno Karabakh voted for different political
parties and candidates but, in the long run, the people voted for
democracy, at the same time viewing the matter as a resolution of the
political issue." He mentioned that there are in the world, as it is
now trendy to say, unrecognized countries, and there is a mistaken
opinion especially among those who deny the existence of independent
Karabakh, and accuse Nagorno Karabakh of not only the absence of
statehood but also the right for self-determination. This election
once again shows that the logistical preparation and standards, as
well as the democratic means in Nagorno Karabakh are on a higher level
than in several neighbouring countries which do not want to recognize
NKR. "At least in Nagorno Karabakh it did not occur to anyone that
power could pass from father to son," said C. Zatulin. "I think,
in this election with such a high turnout people bore in their minds
not only the election of candidates but also the issue of resolution
of the territorial dispute. This election revealed the commitment of
the people of Nagorno Karabakh to the democracy and acted as a means
for the people of different political views and interests to show
to the world that they live in a true state. One cannot explain this
activity otherwise, for the election campaign was politically tense,
and nevertheless, it did not give rise to cataclysms, incidents. The
election was free, transparent, better organized than the previous
ones." C. Zatulin said he had visited several polling stations,
witnessed a number of positive things one will not come across in
other, even developed countries. He singled out the stamped electoral
rolls posted outside the polling stations, which is not practised in
Russia. According to him, all the observers pointed out the fact that
it is the first time that the parliamentary election in Karabakh is
held under both the majority and proportional representation system.
Although many candidates stated that people are not ready for this
system of election, nevertheless, the observers think people were quick
in orienting themselves in the new situation. In the end C. Zatulin
advised the candidates who had not passed either under the majority,
or the proportional representation system not to consider themselves
to be "finished" with politics. "I stood for the RF parliament for
four times, twice I lost and twice I won. I want to say that elections
are like parachute flights. And sometimes, elections mean risk. One
needs to pull the rip cord on time to land softly instead of falling,
falling and crushing against the ground." C. Zatulin congratulated all
the elected candidates, wished success to the new members of parliament
and further effective activity for the good of the country and people
to all the candidates. Then he answered the questions of journalists.
LAURA GRIGORIAN. 26-06-2005
Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 June 05
The director of the Institute of CIS Countries, Member of Parliament
of Russian Duma Constantine Zatulin monitored the NKR parliamentary
election on June 19th. In the morning of June 20th he gave a press
conference for the mass media and the observers from different
countries at the press centre of the Central Election Committee. In the
beginning C. Zatulin said he had also monitored the latest presidential
election, and he was in Karabakh a month before, therefore, he is
well-acquainted with the Karabakh issue and the current situation
in the country. Highly evaluating the parliamentary election,
the director of the Institute of CIS Countries said, "Taking into
account that the results of the elections have not been officially
stated yet, I do not want to single out myself, but I would say the
opinions of the observers on the election are mostly similar. In this
poll the people of Nagorno Karabakh voted for different political
parties and candidates but, in the long run, the people voted for
democracy, at the same time viewing the matter as a resolution of the
political issue." He mentioned that there are in the world, as it is
now trendy to say, unrecognized countries, and there is a mistaken
opinion especially among those who deny the existence of independent
Karabakh, and accuse Nagorno Karabakh of not only the absence of
statehood but also the right for self-determination. This election
once again shows that the logistical preparation and standards, as
well as the democratic means in Nagorno Karabakh are on a higher level
than in several neighbouring countries which do not want to recognize
NKR. "At least in Nagorno Karabakh it did not occur to anyone that
power could pass from father to son," said C. Zatulin. "I think,
in this election with such a high turnout people bore in their minds
not only the election of candidates but also the issue of resolution
of the territorial dispute. This election revealed the commitment of
the people of Nagorno Karabakh to the democracy and acted as a means
for the people of different political views and interests to show
to the world that they live in a true state. One cannot explain this
activity otherwise, for the election campaign was politically tense,
and nevertheless, it did not give rise to cataclysms, incidents. The
election was free, transparent, better organized than the previous
ones." C. Zatulin said he had visited several polling stations,
witnessed a number of positive things one will not come across in
other, even developed countries. He singled out the stamped electoral
rolls posted outside the polling stations, which is not practised in
Russia. According to him, all the observers pointed out the fact that
it is the first time that the parliamentary election in Karabakh is
held under both the majority and proportional representation system.
Although many candidates stated that people are not ready for this
system of election, nevertheless, the observers think people were quick
in orienting themselves in the new situation. In the end C. Zatulin
advised the candidates who had not passed either under the majority,
or the proportional representation system not to consider themselves
to be "finished" with politics. "I stood for the RF parliament for
four times, twice I lost and twice I won. I want to say that elections
are like parachute flights. And sometimes, elections mean risk. One
needs to pull the rip cord on time to land softly instead of falling,
falling and crushing against the ground." C. Zatulin congratulated all
the elected candidates, wished success to the new members of parliament
and further effective activity for the good of the country and people
to all the candidates. Then he answered the questions of journalists.
LAURA GRIGORIAN. 26-06-2005