International observers: Armenian presidential election mostly in accordance with international standards
According to preliminary assessment of international observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe), the OSCE/ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights), the European Parliament, the presidential election in Armenia mostly satisfied the international standards, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Vice President, Senator from Belgium Anne-Marie Lizin said at a press conference on February 20.
A REGNUM correspondent quotes her as saying that high-ranking officials took all possible measures to address shortcomings fixed at previous elections. “The European observers have found that the Armenian authorities took effective measures to address the shortcomings of the last elections, but it is necessary to work for further change and demonstrate political will to touch upon the subjects that cause lack of public confidence in the election process,” Lizin noted.
She added that the Central Election Commission (CEC) showed high level of transparency in its actions except for the process of tackling complaints that were discussed at informal meetings of the commission without election agents, observers or the media. Despite the fact that it does not conflict with the legislation of the country, such way of their actions posed under threat the confidence of the election participants.
Lizin added that many candidates were participating actively in the election campaign and had an opportunity to present their programs to the electorate; they didn’t encounter obstacles in organizing rallies.
Speaking on election campaign coverage in the media, Lizin noted that mostly the coverage of all the candidates in the media was balanced. However, one of the candidates was granted more negative coverage by television channels, especially by the Armenian Public Television. “At the same time, the candidate from the ruling party continued fulfilling his duties of the prime minister that brought him some advantages during the election campaign,” she added. The observers emphasized that there was absolutely no criticism against the authorities on television.
In general, Anne- Marie Lizin noted that some members of the observation mission became the witnesses of “very-very bad incidents,” however, the process made the impression of some progress. “We cannot state on the scale of such accidents, but the very fact that those accidents took place must be taken into account,” she stated noting that “for example some participants may initiate vote recount.”
16:41 02/20/2008
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