Open news feed Close news feed
A A

OBSERVERS’ MISSION FOR ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA SET UP

Politics

Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of OSCE set up an Observers’ Mission for Elections in Armenia . Today it officially opened its office in “Armenia” Hotel.

All the OSCE-countries are obliged to invite the observers to watch the election process.

The Europeans are sure presence of observers improves the election process, increases trust of voters and makes the elections transparent.

Mission head Peter Iker /USA/ says 26 observers from 17 countries will work in Armenia for the long term mission of 6 weeks. Part of them will stay in Yerevan, others will leave for 7 cities. The group will monitor the whole election process – Legislation, pre-election campaign, including Mass Media, political campaign, propaganda, administrative preparedness, election debates. Attitude of Mass Media to various candidates will be studied, too. Other issues, like participation of women in the election process, registration of voters, being kept informed of voters and those drawn in the election process will be the focus of attention of observers.

Observers will meet the representatives of Legislative, Executive Powers, Mass Media, public and political figures, members of elections committees. On the threshold of the elections 250 short-term observers will visit Armenia for monitoring of voting, calculation of votes and elections lists. The observers’ mission will make public the preliminary appraisal regarding the elections just the next day of elections – February 20. The detailed and final conclusion will be made a month later.

Peter Iker stated the presidential elections in 1998 were not up to international standards . There were election irregularities in parliamentary ones in 1999.

He also reminds: “Armenia pledged itself to adhering to the international standards, undertook to provide freedom of speech, Mass Media, equality and freedom of candidates, transparency of elections” .

“How will the fact that both “A1+” and Noyan Tapan TV Companies were deprived of the chance to cover the election process, have an effect on election appraisal?”

Mr Iker avoided to appraise. He just said: “Speech freedom and chance of voters to listen to various standpoints are very important in the election process. Of course, we are anxious when any TV Company is ceased, especially at the elections. We study the issue but it is not the time yet to appraise it anyway” .