RA NA SPEAKER PRESENTS MAIN AMENDMENTS IN ELECTORAL CODE TO OSCE MEMBER-STATES’ AMBASSADORS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. It is the first time when all
political forces reached agreement about the draft Electoral Code. RA
NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian declared this at the April 19 meeting
with Ambassadors of OSCE members-states accredited in Armenia and
representatives of international structures. The thoroughly presented
the main amendments informing that the draft has been already sent
to the Venice Commission and to OSCE for the expertise. Artur
Baghdasarian, answering the Ambassadors’ questions, mentioned
that the visit of OSCE and Venice Commission joint expert group to
Armenia is expected in June, during which discussions around the new
Electoral Code and around issues connected with administration will
be organized. Issues of advisory, technical and expert assistance
were also touched upon at the meeting. U.S. Ambassador John Evans,
OSCE Yerevan Office Head Vladimir Pryakhin, Ambassador of Italy
Marco Clemente, UN Resident Coordinator Consuelo Vidal, mentioning
inclusion of the proposals of the international structures in the
draft Electoral Code, attached importance to provision of legislative
bases and manifestation of political will for holding the 2007-2008
state elections in correspondence with the international standards
and expressed readiness to render assistance in this issue. As Noyan
Tapan was informed from RA NA Public Relations Department, at the
end of the meeting they came to agreement to continue the discussions
around the draft Electoral Code.