STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)–The recently-appointed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic cabinet held its first meeting Wednesday. Presiding over the session was President Arkady Ghoukassian.
He voiced hope that the new cabinet would become a team of people holding the same views and be able to defend the people’s interests. Ghoukassian said he believed that only under those conditions would the major issues facing the Karabakh nation be resolved.
The President noted the importance of the creation and strengthening of democratic institutions and social-economic development of Nagorno Karabakh: "The international community will establish relations with Nagorno-Karabakh–on condition it continues as a democratic state–which ensures normal living conditions for its people," Ghoukassian said.
Ghoukassian said he hoped that successful resolution of the aforementioned problems will enable Nagorno-Karabakh to occupy a firmer position in the international arena and prove the entire world that the people of Karabakh can not only fight successfully–but also create something.
Speaking of the government’s plans–Ghoukassian noted that the cabinet was going to submit a draft budget for 1998 to the National Assembly–adopt laws on self-government–land privatization–implement reforms in the health care and education sectors–boost ties with Armenia.