OSCE OBSERVERS NOTE SHORTCOMINGS AHEAD OF ARMENIAN POLLS

Aravot, Yerevan
6 Apr 07

Text of report by Anna Israyelyan in Armenian newspaper Aravot on 6
April headlined "First report of OSCE observers"

[OSCE] observers have been working in Armenia for about a week
as ambassador Boris Frlec’s mission began to work officially on
21 March. On 25 March, 29 long-term observers were sent to 11
locations. Another 13 members of the team are located in Yerevan.

One of the general conclusions the observation mission has drawn
in its first interim report is that some instability is seen on the
horizon. This is partly due to the emergence of new political forces.

"In this term, a rapid rise of the Prosperous Armenia Party, which
has been functioning since March 2006, is noticeable."

The observers have noted a restriction on gatherings in the run-up to
the [12 May] election, citing as an example the Yerevan musicality’s
moves to prevent rallies in Freedom Square. The mission is studying
the materials of this case, which has been taken to court. Perhaps
our authorities are aware of this, which is why they do not prevent
the upcoming rallies planned to be held in Freedom Square.

Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights [ODIHR] have dedicated a separate subsection to the voting of
[Armenian] citizens residing abroad. Almost all provisions that allowed
voting in Armenian embassies and consulates have been removed from
the Electoral Code. According to the mission, "relatively belated
implementation of those changes make it difficult to keep voters
informed".

The observers are planning to discuss the issue of voting by diplomatic
workers and Armenian citizens abroad.

The interim report also mentions recent amendments to the Electoral
Code. In particular, the report expresses concern that the requirement
of a quorum for [electoral] commissions’ work has been removed during
the electoral campaign. "While it can be a necessary anti-boycott
measure, the lack of the requirement on a quorum creates conditions
for passing decisions by commission chairpersons or a small number
of commission members."

The mission has underscored that it is crucial that electoral
commissions act based on the principles of "lawfulness, collegiality
and publicity."