British embassy concerned about wiretapping of talks with Armenian politician

Mediamax news agency
28 Apr 07

Yerevan, 26 April: The British embassy in Armenia issued a statement
today in which it expressed its concern and disappointment over the
clandestine recording of a conversation between an official of the
embassy and the leader of an opposition party and the publication of
part of the conversation in the press.

The statement notes that along with the OSCE, European Union,
Council of Europe, the diplomatic community and others, the embassy is
interested in seeing the [parliamentary] elections on 12 May conform
to international standards.

"In this context, the embassy maintains a wide range of contacts
and dialogues with institutions and individuals across the political
spectrum in Armenia in order to be informed of all shades of political
opinion," the statement reads. This, according to the British embassy,
is in line with the normal and accepted practice of any embassy
anywhere in the world.

The British embassy notes that its objective is to do everything
possible to support and promote effectiveness in the performance of
democratic institutions and processes in the country. "It is not,
never has been and cannot be our business to support the political
platform of any specific political party," the statement reads.

In its 21 April issue Golos Armenii newspaper published part of the
clandestine recording of a conversation between the leader of the
Orinats Yerkir [Law-Governed Country] Party, Artur Baghdasaryan,
and a British diplomat whose name is not mentioned. During the
conversation, Artur Baghdasaryan asked for the British embassy’s
support and suggested that it take a stricter stance towards the
Armenian authorities.