LOCAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA’S REGIONS HELD IN COMPLIANCE WITH EUROPEAN STANDARDS: INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17. ARMINFO. The Sunday municipal elections in
Armenia’s regions were held in compliance with the European standards,
says the observer of the Congress of Local and regional Authorities
of Europe Sean O’Brien (Ireland).

Sept 25-Oct 16 O’Brien and his colleagues from the UK, the Netherlands
and Italy visited almost 100 electoral disticts of Tavoush, Armavir
and Lori regions.

The observers highly appreciate the commitment of the Armenian
authorities to establish and develop democracy in the country which has
been proved by their active interaction with international observers
and calm and peaceful voting process. There were some inaccuracies –
“dead souls” in voters’ lists and people missing therefrom. There
was even one case of ballot stuffing. But all this was due to
under-training of electoral commissioners.

Commenting on the reports from Echmiadzin on the beating of one
candidate by the supporters of another one O’Brien says that he has
heard of the incident but has got no confirmation of it. In any case
the case will be mentioned in their report. O’Brien criticized some
local media for unfair and unsatisfactory coverage of the elections.

The observers will be in Armenia till Oct 23 to later issue a final
resolution on the elections.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress