OFFICIAL IS FREE TO PRESS "STOP" AND TO PREACH

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[07:56 pm] 18 April, 2007

Garegin Azaryan, Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, says
that errors are inevitable in the polling lists and voters must
clarify the data of the lists.

The CEC has received 10 complaints on inaccuracies since March 23. Most
of them were submitted by Ruben Torosyan, head of the "Supreme-Board"
Deputy Club.

"Impeachment," "New Times" and "Hanrapetutyun" have applied to the
CEC to review the fixed airtime broadcast via National TV Station
and to prolong the period. Their proposal was turned down as out
of 25 participants of the election campaign only 3 challenged the
decision. Today the CEC referred to the OYP’s announcement according
to which the party isn’t given halls.

In this respect, Garegin Azaryan noted that parties must have applied
to the CEC beforehand and added that not all the halls are allotted
free of charge.

As for the complaints connected with the sites of posters, Mr. Azaryan
said, "Parties and candidates running in the NA elections were to
apply to the CEC beforehand to rent territories. They mustn’t have
waited for the official onset of the election campaign."

The CEC chairman accepted the fact that the posters were to be fixed
on special sites and not on the facades of the buildings. Nevertheless,
he urged the RA voters to be tolerant and not to tear off the posters.

In reply to the question how the CEC Chairman accepts the fact that
certain high-level officials make preaching while implementing their
duties, Mr. Azaryan said, "During the Government sittings none of
the ministers has the right to urge anyone to vote for this or that
candidate. Candidate are free to initiate political activity after
finishing their working obligations."

After the meeting Mr. Azaryan hurried to receive the 5000 ballot
boxes arriving from Syria. To note, the boxes with apricot locks are
intended for the proportional candidates and those with white locks
for the majority ones.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress