OSCE ELECTION BODY CONCERNED ABOUT ARMENIA’S REFUSAL TO ISSUE VISAS TO OBSERVERS

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[08:51 pm] 07 May, 2007

WARSAW, 7 May 2007 – The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Christian Strohal,
said today he was concerned about visa problems that some official
election observers face when entering Armenia ahead of the 12 May
parliamentary elections.

"An invitation to observe elections is an invitation to all OSCE
participating States, and is issued in order to ensure equal treatment
and strengthen the diversity of observation," said Ambassador Strohal.

"Preventing some observers from participating contradicts the
principles of transparency and objectivity which are an indispensable
aspect of democratic elections."

Armenian authorities informed the ODIHR that they would not issue
visas to eight observers, all of them of Turkish nationality, who
were expected to arrive in the country today.

The ODIHR Director stressed that this refusal came unexpectedly and
no official reason was given as to why the observers could not enter
the country.

The Armenian Government, just like the governments of all other OSCE
States, is bound by its acceptance of OSCE commitments on democratic
elections, which include an invitation to all OSCE States to observe
elections.

The Armenian authorities invited the OSCE to observe the May
parliamentary elections in February this year.

Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE’s Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, at the 14th OSCE Ministerial
Council, Brussels, 4 December 2006. (Belga/Benoit Doppagne)

"Preventing some observers from participating in election monitoring
contradicts the principles of transparency and objectivity which are
an indispensable aspect of democratic elections."

Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)