OSKANYAN: FREE AND TRANSPARENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN 2007 TO IMPROVE ARMENIA’S REPUTATION IN REGION

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 12 2006

YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Free and transparent parliamentary elections
in 2007 are to improve Armenia’s reputation in the region, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said Thursday in his interview
with Kentron TV channel. He thinks if the elections fail to meet
international standards, Armenia will face grave consequences.

In his words, unlike previous cases, when Armenia will have to deal
with moral consequences after being accused of holding fraudulent
elections, this time the country “will face material consequences,
which will have negative impact on its economy”.

Oskanyan said Armenia has sufficient time for preparing these elections
and any explanation of failure to hold the elections properly will
be unconvincing.

He still hopes that the things will go in the right way.