OBSERVERS STATED THE NECESSITY OF "FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS AND COMMENSURATE POLITICAL WILL TO ADDRESS REMAINING CHALLENGES"
Mediamax
February 20, 2008
Yerevan /Mediamax/. The joint International Observation Mission of
ODIHR/OSCE, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament stated
in Yerevan today that the Presidential Election in Armenia was
administered "mostly in line" with OSCE and Council of Europe
commitments and standards.
Mediamax reports that the Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly Ann-Marie Lizin said this. At the same time, she noted on
behalf of the joint Observation Mission, "further improvements and
commensurate political will are required to address the remaining
challenges". Among these problems the members of the Observation
Mission noted: the absence of a clear separation between State and
party functions, the lack of public confidence in the electoral
processes and ensuring equal treatment of election contestants.
"The conduct of the count did not contribute to reducing an existing
suspicion amongst election stakeholders", the preliminary report of
the international Observation Mission reads.
The document reads that "the CEC ensured a high level of transparency,
except in the consideration of complaints that were for the most part
dealt with in informal sessions".
"Polling was conducted in a relatively calm atmosphere, although
tension or unrest were noted in some 6 per cent of polling stations
visited", the report reads.
"The count was assessed as "bad" or "very bad" in some 16 per cent
of polling stations visited. In several polling stations visited,
observers reported deliberate falsification of data entered into
the protocol.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
