AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA ON ELECTION FOOTING
Support A1+!Armenian Press Club held “2003 Elections in South Caucasus Countries and Impact on the Region’s Processes” two-day seminar in Tsakhkadzor on weekend.
Elections in Armenia are already over while in Azerbaijan and Georgia they are to be held soon; Azerbaijan is on presidential election footing and Georgia is preparing for parliamentary ones. “Election gives a good chance to every nation to ensure democratic development and make a step ahead comparing to neighboring countries”, Chair of European Integration organization Karen Bekaryan said in his speech.
He also reminded that European experts found either presidential or parliamentary elections held in Armenia not up to international standards and that their opinion affected a good deal the process of Armenia’s integration in European structures. Certain steps need to be taken to restore the republic’s reputation, Bekaryan said. In his opinion, Constitutional Court’s decision on confidence referendum as well as return of broadcasting frequencies to A1+ and Noyan Tapan TV companies could play positive role in that deal.
Azeri presidential elections are scheduled for October 15. The same experts that observed Armenian elections will watch Azeri ones.
“Heydar Aliev’s era will be over in Azerbaijan after presidential elections and in Georgia Shevardnadze’s epoch is coming to an end”, Laura Baghdasaryan, Chair of Association for Investigating Journalists, said. In her words, Georgia is likely to do without any president as it was already announced that Georgia would become parliamentary republic beginning from 2005.
