ELECTIONS WILL BE AN EXAM FOR DEMOCRACY

A1+
[02:38 pm] 20 April, 2006

“EU is concerned with holding fair and free elections in Armenia,”
in today’s press conference the EU delegation chief and the State
secretary of Australian Foreign Ministry Hans Winkler informed
the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. Winkler is in Yerevan on
regional call.

Vardan Oskanyan spoke of elections, “Elections are the first exam
for democracy, the EU thoroughly observed that procedure.”

One of the journalists, present at the conference claimed that
there were many frauds in the RA previous elections and wondered,
“Doesn’t this give a ground to assume that the EU applies dual
criteria?” “The criteria are the same in the EU, and your Minister
has already promised that the 2007 – 2008 elections will be fair and
just,” urged Hans Winkler avoiding the direct answer.

He also spoke of the HKR conflict and mentioned that the EU is eager
to solve the matter in peaceful way and will assist that procedure
with all possible means.

He avoided mentioning all the possible lingers which may be applied
by the EU towards militarist Azerbaijan, “That issue is to be solved
by the two sides; we only hope they will find a solution.”

The participants of the press conference also referred to energy
diversification issue. Hans Winkler claimed that the EU is concerned
with the Metsamor nuclear station closure as it is not in line with
today’s criteria from technical point of view. But it is upon the
country to decide whether to close or not the old nuclear station.

“For instance, Austria readily gave up the idea of having nuclear
energy,” announced the Austrian State secretary. Asked the question
whether the fact of giving the 5th energy block of the Hrazdan heat
generating plant to Russia is connected with the idea of energy
sources diversification, the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
answered that it doesn’t matter at all whom the energy buildings are
given or estranged.

“They cannot contravene the energy needs of the country,” said Vardan
Oskanyan. Hans Winkler maintained that each sovereign country makes
its decisions and the meditation of the EU is in vain.

As for the sell of the Armenian pipeline to the RF Hans Winkler didn’t
have any answer as, “The matter is still obscure, I cannot definitely
say that there is such a matter or not unless the deal is made.”

While speaking of Armenian-EU relations Hans Winkler voiced hope that
the activity program will be ready soon and the cooperation will
become firmer in the realm of “New Neighbors” program. He avoided
speaking of Turkish – Armenian relations and the Armenian genocide
acknowledgement and didn’t say that Turkey is to recognize the great
crime against humanity.