The international community should cooperate with the newly elected authorities of the breakaway Azerbaijani region of Nagorny Karabakh, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said on Monday.
The predominantly ethnic Armenian region, which has been a source of conflict between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan since the late 1980s, held elections for its 33-seat parliament on Sunday.
Nalbandian said the vote received positive ratings from international observers showing that the government and the people are willing to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the region.
"These polls show the willingness of Nagorny Karabakh's citizens to live freely and independently," Nalbandian said.
The minister said that during the elections stable democratic institutions and a legitimate leadership were formed, as well as government and local government bodies.
The Azerbaijani Central Election Committee said the polls in the "occupied Nagorny Karabakh region" were "illegal" and may have threatened peaceful settlement of the issue.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.
Over 30,000 people are estimated to have died on both sides between 1988 and 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed. Nagorny Karabakh has remained in Armenian control and tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.
The conflict has been mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group that comprises the United States, Russia and France.
YEREVAN, May 24 (RIA Novosti)
