OSCE FRETS OVER ARMENIA VOTE

The Moscow Times, Russia
Reuters
May 8 2007

YEREVAN, Armenia — The Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe voiced concern Monday at Armenia’s refusal to allow Turkish
observers to monitor an election next weekend.

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said it was not letting Turkish nationals
join OSCE observers at the parliamentary election Saturday because
of the absence of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara.

"Preventing some observers from participating contradicts the
principles of transparency and objectivity," Christian Strohal,
director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights, said in a statement.

Ankara closed all border crossings and cut diplomatic ties with Armenia
in 1993 to protest the seizure by Armenian forces of territory in
Azerbaijan, Turkey’s historical ally that was fighting a war with
Armenia.

Relations have been further soured by Ankara’s refusal to recognize
as genocide the killings of 1.5 million Armenians during the last
days of the Ottoman Empire.

The OSCE said Armenia had refused to issue entry visas to eight
Turkish election observers who were to arrive in the country on Monday.

"This is a result of the absence of diplomatic relations," said
Vladimir Karapetyan, spokesman for Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

"Taking into account Turkey’s policy toward Armenia, the fact that
it is keeping the border closed and is not establishing diplomatic
relations, we did not consider it expedient that representatives of
Turkey should carry out monitoring," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress