The constitutional referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) was largely in line with international standards,according to a European observer who is now in the country to monitor electoral processes.
Speaking to Tert.am, Frank Engel, and the head of the EU-Artsakh Parliamentary Friendship group,said he visited polling stations in different regions and in capital Stepanakert on February 20 to make sure that the voting is conducted without violations. Mr Engel said he finds that the constitution’s legitimacy can be now considered an accomplished fact.[br]The European parliamentarian said he was somewhat surprised to see a tall turnout, a trend which, and he added,is not typical to Caucasus countries.[br]Engel said he doesn’t much care approximately the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry official’s recent menacing statement promising to blacklist any foreign observer who visits the country. He said he doesn’t treat remarks of the kind as a threat preventing his future visits to Artsakh.
Asked whether the referendum is likely to affect the Nagorno-Karabakh clash settlement process, the European observer said he doesnt see any direct connection between the two processes.
Source: tert.am