VENICE COMMISSION STARTED DISCUSSING THE ELECTORAL CODE

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[05:06 pm] 27 September, 2006

The discussions of the amendments to the RA Electoral Code started
in the NA today with the participation of the representatives of
the NA political powers, and experts from the Venice Commission,
the OSCE/ODIHR, international organizations and the Central Electoral
Committee.

Opening the works of the session NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan thanked
the experts for participating in the discussions. He mentioned that
the joint conclusion of the Venice Commission and the representatives
of the OSCE/ODIHR lies in the basis of the draft amendment to the
Electoral Code which has been introduced into circulation by several
political powers.

During the discussion the sides agreed to include the joint conclusion
of the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR into the draft except
for provisions N 28, 42-45 and 56. In the joint conclusion there were
questions about the order of voting and appeal. These two issues plus
the above mentioned six provisions will be the subject for discussion.

Mr. Torosyan mentioned that the draft which takes into account all
the offers was sent to the experts a week ago. He voiced hope that
the discussions will take place in an atmosphere of mutual agreement.