2007 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS MUST BE MUCH BETTER THAN PREVIOUS ONES, RA CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION CHAIRMAN IS SURE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 28 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Elections of local self-government
bodies were held during 2006 in 162 communities of Armenia, including
the community heads’ elections in 103 ones. Excluding the cities of
Stepanavan, Goris, Germuk and the community of Ajapniak, Yerevan, all
the other communities are rural ones. Garegin Azarian, the Chairman
of the Central Electoral Commission stated about it at the December
27 summing up press conference. He informed that from the 62 531
applicants, presented a claim for participation in the qualification
courses organized by the Central Electoral Commission for candidates
for membership to electoral commissions, 38 529 ones took part in
the courses, 2 511 from who did not pass the examination. The Central
Electoral Commission considered concerning the rather great number of
applicants who did not take part in the courses, mentioning that the
courses were organized not only in the centers of the marzes but also
as near to the settlements as it is possible to secure most beneficial
conditions for participants. Regular elections of local self-government
bodies are envisaged in 2007 in 120 communities, includimg community
heads’ elections in 94 ones. The cities of Charentsavan, Ararat,
Artashat, Maralik and the community of Shengavit, Yerevan, are
among the latters. Naturally, the main event of the coming year
is parliamentary elections envisaged in May. In G.Azarian’s words,
a universal computer net will completely function during the state
elections. It is at present introduced in 23 electoral districts
of Armenia, works will finish in the coming 15-20 days in other 5
ones. So, during the state elections, the universal computer net
will secure, according to districts, summing up of the results to
be got from 28 electoral districts, excluing Yerevan. Data will be
got from 13 electoral districts of Yerevan in the way of report and
will be fixed in the computer at the Central Electoral Commission. In
G.Azarrian’s words, the summing up of results of elections in parallel
shown on the big screen placed at the Central Electoral Commission
will secure transparence of the process, and the amendments recently
made to the Electoral Code "in general, give possibility to hold the
elections which we all expect: free, just, transparent." "However,
those elections must be much better, than the previous ones were,"
Central Electoral Commission Chairman G.Azarian expressed a confidence.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress