U.S. Observers Say Karabakh Polls FREE & TRANSPARENT

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Mediamax news agency

12 August 2002

 

"Free and transparent" is how an independent team of American observers described the presidential elections in the Nagorno Artsax Republic.

 

A statement from the US observers, distributed in Stepanakert today, says the "the authorities of Nagornyy Artsax have invested serious efforts in holding elections in a democratic way". Having visited 29 polling stations, the American observers said the they had not registered any serious violations of the election process.

 

The American observer team includes: former US envoy to Jordan and Tanzania Richard Viets; former US State Department official James Hooper; retired diplomat Louis Sell; World Bank and USAID adviser Brenda Pearson; and former Yugoslav Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Matic.

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ARMENIAN TV INTERVIEWS U.S. OBSERVERS OF Artsax POOLS

 

PUBLIC TELEVISION OF ARMENIA

11 August 2002

 

YEREVAN

 

...Good evening Artur. Please, you are on the air.

 

Correspondent: I would like to give you some information. We have been in some districts of the NKR, in Stepanakert, Shushi Susa, Martuni, and Khodzhaly, which is now called Ivanyan. I invited to the studio today international observers whose opinions are important if we take into consideration who these people are and whom they are representing. My guests are U.S. Congressmen, Democrats Lloyd Dogget and Frank Pallone. Good evening and thank you for accepting my invitation. My first question to you is; where have you been and what are your impressions of the elections?

 

Frank Pallone: Well, the impressions are very good. I always compare the experience in the United States and am proud of the way democracy is practised and functions in the U.S. . And the elections I saw are quite like those in the U.S. .

There was more enthusiasm and people who turned out than what I saw in my home city of New Jersey. We went to several polling stations in Stepanakert and we went also to Nigi Camiyyat, which was most interesting. We saw that rural polling place and, again, it was very impressive to see democracy at work even in a rural area.

 

Lloyd Dogget: We saw the challenges Artsax faces. Its government could have taken a different course. What impresses me is how open that process was. International observers like us were welcome to got anywhere in the area we wished to go, talk to people, see the voting process. This openness will certainly add to the strengthening of democracy here.

 

Correspondent: It is wonderful to hear such things. Before I ask my next question, I would like to hear incubent President Arkadiy Gukasyan's comments.

 

Arkadiy Gukasyan: It is clear that the world cannot accept a totalitarian regime or military dictatorship in Nagornyy Artsax. Our only option is to improve the people's well-being. And we have taken serious steps in this direction. I am convinced that the world would understand and accepts this very seriously. This is our historical chance.

 

Correspondent: You heard this comment and my next question is; there were, if I am not mistaken, about 130 independent states on the world map 30 years ago; today there are more than 200, so what kind of an impact can this have on Nagornyy Artsax? Azerbaijan is much more powerful country than Nagornyy Artsax and there have been many issues raised in this regard. What do you think about this?

 

Frank Pallone: Well, certainly in the U.S. we try to spread democracy and we feel that the U.S. is a good example and we are trying to help other countries become democratic. I think it is very important, I heard what the president of Nagornyy Artsax said that If Nagornyy Artsax is to be recognized by other countries it is important that it be democratic and it is a fact that Azerbaijan had not shown as much tendency towards democracy. I think that the two will be compared, and the international community will say; we have sate in Nagornyy Artsax which is democratic. We have another one that is often critical of Nagornyy Artsax and it is not democratic. This will create sympathy for the NKR, as they are doing the right thing. they are implmenting democracy.

 

Correspondent: What have you observed today, do you think that the people of Artsax have managed to make their dreams come true?

 

Lloyd Dogget: I think that each time when free people take part in elections democracy is strengthened not only in the area where they are held, in Artsax, but around the world. But I think that to make this dream come true you have to build on this democracy. Every family must feel that its children are secure from attack from abroad and that they will be able to find economic security at home and jobs. I hope that the success of these elections will encourage Nagornyy Artsax and Armenia to take all steps towards a permanent resolution even though they realize the great obstacles they are facing from the Azerbaijani government.

 

Correspondent: Thank you very much