ARMENIAN PM STATED THAT REALIZATION OF EXIT POLLS "WILL ALLOW AVOIDING INAPPROPRIATE SPECULATIONS AFTER PUBLICIZING ELECTION RESULTS"

Mediamax
December 5, 2007

Yerevan /Mediamax/. U.S. International Republican Institute (IRI)
will be realizing surveys of Armenian electors at the exit from the
polling stations (exit polls) during the presidential elections of
February 19 of 2008.

Mediamax reports referring the press service of the government,
U.S. Charge D’Affaires Joseph Pennington made the proposal on
realization of exit polls by IRI on December 4 during the meeting
with the Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

Armenian Prime Minister welcomed the proposal of the U.S. diplomat,
noting that the realization of exit polls is a good way to find out the
preferences of the electors and it will allow avoiding inappropriate
speculations after publicizing election results".

"If the International Republican Institute did not forward the given
initiative, we would invite a specialized organization for holding
exit polls on the elections day", Serzh Sarkisian noted.