PREPARING FOR THE ELECTION

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 May 05

On May 21 the chairman of the NKR Central Election Committee Sergey
Nasibian visited the electoral district N 13 of Martakert, N 14 of
Vank and N 15 of Haterk, Drmbon and Getavan to check the work of the
electoral district committees and instruct on solution of problems
occurring during their work. The chairman of the CEC gave some
information about the local electoral committees to be set up in the
coming days and extended to the chairmen of the electoral district
committees the written message of the NKR Central Election Committee
which states that according to Point 8 of Article 34 of the NKR
Electoral Code, all the members of the committees are freed from their
duties during their activity, and according to Point 9 of the same
article, the salary of all the citizens involved in the electoral
committees will be paid fully in the period of the election. According
to the chairman of the electoral district committee N 14 of Arajadzor
Zaven Shahbarian, they did not encounter any problems in their
work. The electoral committee has held 8 meetings. Of the four
nominees 2 were registered in the May 12 meeting. They are Rudik
Martirossian (running under the proportional system) and Knyaz
Melkumian (running on party ticket). The other two nominees were not
registered for the reason of not having had an election deposit and
withdrawal of candidacy. In the electoral district N 14 the
organizational questions have been solved. The electoral register is
already available at the polling station. The meetings of the
candidates with the voters have been scheduled. The vice chairman of
the committee of the electoral district N 14, the director of the
secondary school of Arajadzor Flora Baghramian stated that the
municipality of the village of Vank had provided good conditions for
holding the election. The polling station will be located on the first
floor of the school of the village, and according to F. Baghramian,
there will be no problems connected with the polls. According to the
chairman of the electoral committee of the electoral district N 15 of
Haterk Seyran Baghrian, 6 meetings have been held in this district,
two candidates will run the election, Sergey Ohanian and Vitaly
Begian. S. Baghrian said that, judging by the turnout in the election
to the head of the village community of Haterk last year, the voters
of the community will participate actively in the upcoming
parliamentary election. The members of the electoral committee gave a
number of questions to the chairman of the CEC S. Nasibian. It was
pointed out that there are many elderly people in Haterk, as well as
bed-ridden patients, and the members of the committee wanted to know
whether moving ballot boxes will be used to enable these people to
vote. S. Nasibian stated that the NKR Election Code does not provide
for moving ballot boxes, therefore the community has to provide
transport for these people. In the village of Drmbon (electoral
district N 15) the place of the polling station was not chosen
yet. The old school building is not suitable for a polling station,
whereas the new school building cannot be used for a number of
objective and subjective reasons. In the village of Getavan (electoral
district N 15) the candidates have not began the election campaign. In
the electoral district N 13 of Martakert the members of the electoral
committee reported on the preparations for the election. In answer to
the questions of the members of the committee on the use of posters
and other means of campaigning, S. Nasibian informed that according to
the NKR Electoral Code,all the political parties and candidates can
freely publish posters, leaflets, and other printed material. Within
five days after the beginning of the campaign the head of the
community provides special places for campaign posters which are
convenient for the voters to visit. According to the chairman of the
electoral committee Rafael Baghdassarian, a high turnout is expected
in theupcoming election. The election will be free, independent and
transparent, in conformity with the principles of democracy. `This
significant political event to be held in Karabakh once again
testifies to the development of democracy in our young republic,’ said
Rafael Baghdassarian.

NVARD OHANJANIAN.
26-05-2005