OSCE Chairman concerned over constitutional referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh

BRUSSELS, 11 December 2006 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, said today that the OSCE will not recognize the referendum on a draft constitution held in Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday.

"Such a referendum is counter-productive to the ongoing conflict settlement process, which has recently shown visible progress, as acknowledged by the parties," said Minister De Gucht.

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."

He 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-Karabach republic as an independent state."

The OSCE Minsk Group is co-chaired by France, Russia and the United States.