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AZERBAIJAN REGION BACKS SECESSION
Aljazeera.net, Qatar
Dec 11 2006
Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are keen to break away from the central
authorities of Azerbaijan
Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan have
overwhelmingly approved a new pro-independence constitution in
a referendum.
According to official preliminary figures released on Monday, 98.6
per cent of voters approved the constitution, which describes Karabakh
as a sovereign state. Turnout was 87.2 per cent.
"According to preliminary results, the constitution is adopted and
December 10 from now can be declared as a Constitution Day," said
Sergey Nasibyan, the election commission chief.
The vote on Sunday was held on the 15th anniversary of a referendum
in which Karabakh declared independence.
Karabakh split from Azerbaijan in a 1990s war that killed 35,000
people.
The new plebiscite is seen as a signal of commitment to independence
by the region.
No recognition
Azerbaijan and the international community do not recognise
Nagorno-Karabakh's independence and Azerbaijan's foreign ministry
said in a statement that holding the referendum "may impede the
peace process".
It said: "Azerbaijan does not recognise the results of the referendum,
which contradicts efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in
the region."
On December 10, 1991, the self-styled Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
declared independence from Azerbaijan, but despite having its own flag,
military and government, remains unrecognised as a separate state by
other countries, including Armenia.
Nagorno-Karabakh's separatist government continues to seek
recognition. The majority of people in Nagorno-Karabakh are Christian
ethnic Armenians who associate themselves with neighbouring Armenia
rather than Azerbaijan, a majority Muslim state.
Azerbaijan wants to restore its control over the region and said the
referendum was illegitimate.
Tentative peace
Sporadic clashes inside the territory between Azeri and ethnic Armenian
fighters began in 1988 and escalated to full-scale hostilities in 1992
between Azeri forces and troops from the neighbouring state of Armenia.
About 35,000 people have died in the conflict and up to one million
people have been displaced.
A ceasefire was signed in 1994 but a peace deal has yet to be
successfully brokered.
The Karabakh vote follows similar polls in a number of other
unrecognised former Soviet Union states, including Georgia's breakaway
South Ossetia and Moldova's Transdniestr earlier this year.
Aljazeera.net, Qatar
Dec 11 2006
Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are keen to break away from the central
authorities of Azerbaijan
Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan have
overwhelmingly approved a new pro-independence constitution in
a referendum.
According to official preliminary figures released on Monday, 98.6
per cent of voters approved the constitution, which describes Karabakh
as a sovereign state. Turnout was 87.2 per cent.
"According to preliminary results, the constitution is adopted and
December 10 from now can be declared as a Constitution Day," said
Sergey Nasibyan, the election commission chief.
The vote on Sunday was held on the 15th anniversary of a referendum
in which Karabakh declared independence.
Karabakh split from Azerbaijan in a 1990s war that killed 35,000
people.
The new plebiscite is seen as a signal of commitment to independence
by the region.
No recognition
Azerbaijan and the international community do not recognise
Nagorno-Karabakh's independence and Azerbaijan's foreign ministry
said in a statement that holding the referendum "may impede the
peace process".
It said: "Azerbaijan does not recognise the results of the referendum,
which contradicts efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in
the region."
On December 10, 1991, the self-styled Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
declared independence from Azerbaijan, but despite having its own flag,
military and government, remains unrecognised as a separate state by
other countries, including Armenia.
Nagorno-Karabakh's separatist government continues to seek
recognition. The majority of people in Nagorno-Karabakh are Christian
ethnic Armenians who associate themselves with neighbouring Armenia
rather than Azerbaijan, a majority Muslim state.
Azerbaijan wants to restore its control over the region and said the
referendum was illegitimate.
Tentative peace
Sporadic clashes inside the territory between Azeri and ethnic Armenian
fighters began in 1988 and escalated to full-scale hostilities in 1992
between Azeri forces and troops from the neighbouring state of Armenia.
About 35,000 people have died in the conflict and up to one million
people have been displaced.
A ceasefire was signed in 1994 but a peace deal has yet to be
successfully brokered.
The Karabakh vote follows similar polls in a number of other
unrecognised former Soviet Union states, including Georgia's breakaway
South Ossetia and Moldova's Transdniestr earlier this year.