PRYAKHIN IS CONCERNED OVER VOTERS’ PASSIVITY

A1+
[09:28 pm] 27 April, 2007

Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan,
observes relative passivity among the Armenian voters. He is concerned
over the fact that half of the voters have no intention to participate
in the upcoming elections.

"I cannot say what factors their inactivity is determined by, but
the recent polling results suggest that over 90 per cent of the
Armenian voters don’t connect their futures with the outcome of the
parliamentary elections," Mr Pryakhin says.

In his opinion, the Armenians are more united over the NKR conflict
resolution but in most cases they remain indifferent. Armenian families
mainly get financial assistance from oversea countries.

In this view, I want to remind that active civil participation promotes
democracy in the country.

In reply to A1+’s question how he assesses the pre-election scene
in Armenia, Mr Pryakhin said, "In comparison with 2003 elections,
I see many positive achievements. Let’s take the amended Electoral
Code as an illustration. We have issued two booklets covering voters’
rights and duties," Mr Pryakhin adds.