The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs expresses its serious concern over a so-called “constitutional referendum” scheduled on December 10, 2006, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Council emphasizes that holding the so-called “referendum” violates the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan as well as relevant norms and principles of the international law, and, thus, shall have no legal effect and its results shall be considered as null and void.
The Ministers underline that the so-called “referendum” interferes with an ongoing peace process, is designed to impose a fait accompli situation in the region and misleads the international community.
The GUAM Council stresses that such an act runs contrary to the universally recognized standards and values of democracy, rule of law and human rights. Any constitutional document envisaging a self-rule for the population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region can only be elaborated through a legal, democratic and peaceful process with a full, equal and direct participation of the entire population of the region consisting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities.
The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs calls on the OSCE participating States and other international organizations to condemn such an illegal act and to support the ongoing efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution of the conflict on the basis of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders.
Brussels, 4 December 200
