STEPANAKERT. – President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic National Assembly (NKR/Artsakh NA), Ashot Ghulyan, on Monday received a French delegation that has arrived in Artsakh on an observation mission during the constitutional referendum being held in the country, on the same day.

First, Ghulyan stressed the special warm relations between Artsakh and France, the NKR NA informed NEWS.am.

“February 20 is a memorable day for us [i.e. Artsakh]; 29 years ago on this day, we raised the flag of freedom and took the first step towards democracy,” noted the speaker of the NKR parliament. “[And] our French friends stood with us all that time.”

Former MP Georges Colombier noted, on behalf of the visiting French delegation, that they already had visited several polling stations, and that they are satisfied with the referendum process.

Also, the French observers asked about the expected results. In response, Ashot Ghulyan stated that the people of Artsakh have a track-record of taking part in referenda, and therefore a high degree of turnout is expected during Monday’s plebiscite, too.

Subsequently, head of the Artsakh parliament presented the process of constitutional reform in the NKR.

In addition, the interlocutors discussed the prospects for bilateral cooperation, and the impact of regional and international developments on the process of resolving the Karabakh.

The NKR on Monday is conducting a constitutional referendum.

The respective constitutional amendments envision a transition from a semi-presidential to a presidential system of government in Artsakh.