PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION SATISFIED THAT ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA "WERE, ON THE WHOLE, CONDUCTED FAIRLY, FREELY AND LARGELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS"

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
May 14 2007

Yerevan, May 14. /Mediamax/. Presidency of the European Union (EU)
stated "with satisfaction" that the parliamentary elections held
in Armenia on 12 May "were, on the whole, conducted fairly, freely
and largely in accordance with the international commitments which
Armenia had entered into".

Mediamax reports that this is said in the statement of the Presidency
of the European Union.

"Presidency welcomes the fact that, compared to previous elections,
significant progress has been made", the document reads.

"The Presidency also welcomes the fact that the parliamentary elections
were observed and monitored closely and in a professional manner by a
comprehensive ODIHR election observation mission and by delegations
from the OSCE and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assemblies", is
noted in the statement.

Looking ahead to the presidential elections due to be held at the
beginning of 2008, the EU Presidency called on Armenia to investigate
and resolve the procedural problems which still exist, particularly
those concerning vote-counting but also the isolated cases of
irregularities which were observed.

"The Presidency of the European Union is very much in favor of
intensifying cooperation with Armenia. This would breathe new life into
the European Neighborhood Policy and the Action Plan agreed under it",
the statement reads.