U.S. EMBASSY OFFERS TRAINING CLASS TO ARMENIAN ELECTION COMMISSIONS’ MEMBERS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 17 2007

YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. U.S. Charge d’Affaires to Armenia Joseph
Penington supports the idea of upgrading qualification of election
commissions’ members ahead of presidential election.

He told journalists on Monday that the U.S. Embassy representatives
offered at the meting held recently in electoral commissions to conduct
a training course to members of the Central Election Commission.

The diplomat voiced some concern over the fact that not a single member
of the Central Election Commission had responded to this initiative
so far.

He said that the United States had launched a comprehensive
election-supporting program yet before Armenian parliamentary elections
and is implementing it also now.

The program includes a wide range of measures – from updating voter
lists to attracting women and young people to the vote.

Armenian presidential election is scheduled for February 19.