Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the "constitutional referendum" in Nagorno Karabakh on 10 December 2006

Press release 521/2006
11  December, 2006

The European Union is aware that a "constitutional referendum" has taken place in Nagorno Karabakh on 10 December 2006. The EU recalls that it does not recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. It recognizes neither the "referendum" nor its outcome.

The EU reiterates its firm support to the OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairmen, and their efforts towards a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The EU considers that conducting such a "referendum", thus pre-empting the outcome of the ongoing negotiations, did not contribute to constructive efforts at peaceful conflict resolution. It calls on all parties to the conflict to intensify their efforts to find a negotiated solution to the conflict.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.