ARMENIA'S PRESS REPORTS ON REFERENDUM IN "NKR"

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001705

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AM AJ
SUBJECT: ARMENIA'S PRESS REPORTS ON REFERENDUM IN "NKR"


Sensitive but unclassified. Pleast treat accordingly.


1. (SBU) The Armenian media widely covered the constitutional
referendum held December 10 in the "Nagorno Karabakh
Republic." According to preliminary results, the
constitution passed by 98.6 percent, with an 87 percent voter
turnout. Newspapers complained at the international
community's refusal to recognize the referendum. President
Kocharian released a statement congratulating the people of
the "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" for the conduct of
"democratic" elections. The OSCE Minsk Group statement
critical of the referendum (posted by the Embassy) has not
yet gotten broad play in Armenia.


2. (SBU) A link to a page devoted to stories on the
referendum popped up on the Russian-language Regnum news
site. Lragir.am featured an interview with Kocharian
security adviser Garnik Isaghulian, who pushed aside
questions of the international community's reaction.
"Sometimes it is not important what the international
community will say. Sometimes it is much more important how
people are guided in implementing their goals," Isaghulian
told the media outlet. He also said the adoption of the
constitution would demonstrate the "Nagorno Karabakh
Republic" was an established state.


3. (SBU) President Kocharian's statement congratulated the
residents of N-K on the referendum, saying they had "proved
once again their readiness to live freely." Kocharian also
said that the fact that international observers had found the
"democratic" voting to be in compliance with international
standards, the referendum "became another base for the
establishment of statehood."
GODFREY