HELSINKI ASSEMBLY EXPECTS EU AND OSCE REVISE THEIR ESTIMATION OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA
By G. Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
24/05/2007

The coordinator of Vanadzor office of the Civic Assembly of Helsinki,
Arthur Sakunts expressed hope on a conference at the "Pastark"
("Argument") club that the OSCE and Eu shall revise their estimations
given to the process and results of the parliamentary elections in
Armenia, may 12, 2007. Mr. Sakunts admitted that the positive approach
of the aforementioned organizations is caused by political matters,
but assured that they shall revise it after getting acquainted with
the Helsinki Assembly’s report.

The coordinator assured that monitoring in Lori and Tavush regions of
Armenia detected numerous violations of the electoral code, perpetrated
by political parties and single candidates. He stated that governmental
resources were used to aid the Republican Party. "Thriving Armenia"
party put up its vast financial resources to achieve success.

Mr. Sakunts also said that a great amount of mistakes were admitted
in the election lists and the members of the local election committees
neglected a number of minor offences.

Nevertheless the coordinator of the Civic Assembly of Helisnki’s
Vanadzor office accepted that the elections this year were one step
forward of that of 2003. He expressed opinion that the Armenian
politicians in this sense were affected by the statement of the
"Millennium Challenge" corporation about further financing of projects
in Armenia.