The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, said today that the OSCE will not recognize the constitution referendum held in Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday.
In his words, “such a referendum is counter-productive to the ongoing conflict settlement process, which has recently shown visible progress, as acknowledged by the parties”. Referring to a statement on Nagorno-Karabakh made at last week’s 14th OSCE Ministerial Council in Brussels, he said: “We do not welcome a move that could jeopardize progress made at this promising juncture.”
Karel de Gucht also referred to today’s statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, saying: “A reason not to recognize this referendum is that no member of the international community recognizes the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic as an independent state.”, OSCE press-office reportes.
