The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs expressed its serious concern over the so-called constitutional referendum scheduled on 10 December, 2006, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
In its statement the Council emphasized that holding the so-called referendum violates the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan as well as relevant standards and principles of the international law, and, thus, shall have no legal effect and its results shall be considered to be null and void. The Ministers stressed that the so-called referendum interferes with the ongoing peace process, is designed to impose a fait accompli situation in the region and will mislead the international community.
The GUAM Council stated that such an act is 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 the 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.