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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| High turnout in Nagorno-Karabakh | High turnout in Nagorno-Karabakh |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| There has been a high turnout in a referendum on a proposed constitution for the disputed former Soviet territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. | There has been a high turnout in a referendum on a proposed constitution for the disputed former Soviet territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. |
| Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh hope the vote will take the region a step closer to becoming an independent state. | |
| A war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the early 1990s killed up to 30,000 people and left the territory under ethnic Armenian control. | A war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the early 1990s killed up to 30,000 people and left the territory under ethnic Armenian control. |
| But the Azeri government insists that it remains part of Azerbaijan. | But the Azeri government insists that it remains part of Azerbaijan. |
| The head of the election commission in Nagorno-Karabakh announced that the turnout was high enough to make the referendum valid. | The head of the election commission in Nagorno-Karabakh announced that the turnout was high enough to make the referendum valid. |
| The result is expected be a strong endorsement for the proposed constitution, which would declare this small mountainous enclave to be a sovereign, democratic republic. The referendum came 12 years after the ceasefire which ended the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. | The result is expected be a strong endorsement for the proposed constitution, which would declare this small mountainous enclave to be a sovereign, democratic republic. The referendum came 12 years after the ceasefire which ended the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |
| But with many of the one million people displaced by the war still unable to return to their homes, the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh still provokes bitter resentments in the region. | But with many of the one million people displaced by the war still unable to return to their homes, the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh still provokes bitter resentments in the region. |
| Autonomy rejected | Autonomy rejected |
| The separatist president of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arkady Gukasyan, said this was a historic chance to establish a democratic state. | The separatist president of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arkady Gukasyan, said this was a historic chance to establish a democratic state. |
| But he admitted it did not mean the international community would immediately recognise Nagorno-Karabakh's independence. | But he admitted it did not mean the international community would immediately recognise Nagorno-Karabakh's independence. |
| Armenia supports the region's ambition to become independent. | Armenia supports the region's ambition to become independent. |
| But Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan, and the Azeri government insists it must not be allowed to break away. | But Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan, and the Azeri government insists it must not be allowed to break away. |
| It said the referendum was illegal, and could damage the peace process. | It said the referendum was illegal, and could damage the peace process. |
| Azerbaijan has offered Nagorno-Karabakh widespread autonomy as part of a peace deal. | Azerbaijan has offered Nagorno-Karabakh widespread autonomy as part of a peace deal. |
| But that has been rejected by the separatist authorities. | But that has been rejected by the separatist authorities. |
| The conflicting opinions about the referendum simply demonstrate that even after years of peace talks, a solution to this long-running dispute remains hard to find. | The conflicting opinions about the referendum simply demonstrate that even after years of peace talks, a solution to this long-running dispute remains hard to find. |