OSCE PRESENTS HANDBOOK ON POLITICAL PARTIES RUNNING FOR PARLIAMENT

ArmRadio.am
02.05.2007 16:32

An OSCE supported handbook summarizing the programmes, activities
and goals of political parties running for the 12 May parliamentary
elections in Armenia was presented in Yerevan today.

The publication has been compiled by the Civil and Social Development
Foundation with financial support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan
and USAID Counterpart International Civic Advocacy Support Programme
in Armenia.

"In any democratic society citizens have the right to know what the
political parties running for the elections stand for," said Marc
Bojanic, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office. "I believe the publication
will provide the Armenian voters with the tools to make an informed
decision and contribute to the fairness of the electoral process."

Samvel Mkhitaryan, the Chairman of the Foundation for Civil and Social
Development, added: "The citizens’ conscious and well-informed choice
is crucial for consolidating civil society. This publication will
give voters unbiased and systematized information on the political
platforms, programmes and objectives of parties running for the
elections."

The guidebook has a circulation of 9 000 copies, and will
be distributed among political parties, NGOs conducting local
observations, media and the public at large. An electronic version
of the guidebook as well as the electronic database of political
parties running for the parliamentary elections will be available
online at