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NKR Democratic Process Gains Strong Congressional Support PRESS RELEASE Former State Department officials to monitor NKR presidential elections Washington, DC - A first-ever American monitoring team will observe the upcoming presidential elections in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The team is composed of former diplomats and experienced election monitors who will assess the commitment of Nagorno Karabakh to a free and fair electoral process. On August 11 voters of Nagorno Karabakh will head to the polling stations to elect the country's third president. Relying heavily on its own limited resources, the NKR Government has been steadfastly progressing on the path of establishing and strengthening democratic forms of government since 1991, when the country declared its independence. Since then, two presidential and three parliamentary elections have been held. International observers hailed the recent parliamentary elections of summer 2000 as the "most transparent, free and fair" in the South Caucasus region. "We are very happy about this positive assessment. However, there were very minor irregularities noticed in Elections 2000 and during the last two years the NKR Central Electoral Commission (CEC) was able to address all of them. International experience shows that there is no limit to improving the electoral system. It is an ongoing process and we will continue on that path", said the CEC Chairman Sergey Davidian. This year, four candidates will compete for the NKR presidential post (names listed in alphabetical order): Grigori Afanasian is Chairman of the Freedom Party of Nagorno Karabakh and Co-Chairman of the recently established Unity public and political organization. Afanasian, a long-time professor at the Artsakh State University, was one of the early activists in Karabakh's movement for reunification with Armenia. His party has been in opposition to the incumbent President's administration. Albert Ghazarian is Chairman of the Christian Democratic Party. Ghazarian has previously served as Representative of the NKR State Defense Committee to Armenia and headed the Oversight and Archival Services of the Karabakh government. He made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in November 1996. Ghazarian's party has been in opposition to the incumbent President's administration. Arkady Ghoukasian, the incumbent President, was elected in September 1997. Ghoukasian's reelection bid has been endorsed by four political organizations: the Democratic Artsakh Union, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Communist party and Armenakan party. Prior to his election as President, Ghoukasian served as Karabakh's Foreign Minister (1993-97) and Political Affairs Advisor to the Chairman of the NKR State Defense Committee (1992-93). Artur Tovmasian is a Professor of Artsakh State University and has no party affiliation. In 1996-97 Tovmasian served as the Chairman of NKR Parliament, he resigned from that position following his failed presidential bid in September 1997; he continued to serve as a Member of Parliament and member of its Committee for Infrastructure until 2000. Incumbent NKR President Ghoukasian invited international observers to monitor the upcoming elections. In his July letter Ghoukasian wrote, "to ensure that we can meet our commitment to hold free and fair elections", NKR would "welcome observers." He added "We will provide full access to our election officials, polling sites, ballot-counting facilities and whatever additional access you might require to complete the task." Congressional friends of Nagorno Karabakh have reiterated their strong support of the democratic processes. "Even though the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh remains an open issue, we believe that free and fair elections are beneficial to the future of the region regardless of the outcome [of the negotiations]. The development of democratic institutions and patterns will serve long-term stability and prosperity of the region," read the letter signed by U.S. Senators Carl Levin (D-MI), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and Robert Torricelli (D-NJ). U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), the two Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, sent a joint letter stressing that "the right of the people of [Nagorno-Karabakh] to elect their leaders cannot be disputed". In his response to the NKR President's letter, Charles Costello of the Carter Center wrote, "On behalf of The Carter Center, I wish you the best of luck in holding a free and fair election." "The people of Nagorno Karabakh are irrevocably committed to building a democratic state. Free and fair election - whether at presidential, parliamentary or local levels - is the foundation of any democratic society. We will continue regular election cycles as provided for in our constitutional laws, thus earning the trust of our citizens and the respect of other nations that share and abide by these universal values", said incumbent President Ghoukasian. For additional information on the upcoming elections contact the NKR Foreign Ministry at info@mfa.nk.am or (374) 717-1551.
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