ISSUES CONCERNING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS DISCUSSED

National Assembly, Armenia
Jan 17 2008

On January 16 Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia received Mr. Mikhail Krotov, IPA CIS
Secretary General. Mr. Felix Ghushchyan, Ambassador of Armenia in
IPA CIS participated at the meeting.

The sides mainly discussed the upcoming elections. Mr. Tigran
Torosyan, NA President, expressed confidence that they will be held
with no less success as the parliamentary elections were, and they
will comply with the international standards, enabling the observers
to record good outcomes. The NA President stressed the work of the
IPA CIS observation mission, which will had its contribution in the
successful conduct of the May elections too.

Mr. Mikhail Krotov, IPA CIS Secretary General congratulated the New
Year of the NA President on behalf of Mr. Sergey Mironov, IPA CIS
Chairman and him and wished a democratic year to Armenia. He said
that after getting invitation for carrying out an observation mission
a group of 10 experts headed by Mr. Anatoly Torshin had been formed,
and already from the beginning of February it would hold a mediation
monitoring. Mr Krotov confirmed that still during the parliamentary
elections the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia was studied,
and they are aware of the amendments made also in November. They
believe that the Electoral Code was well updated and it complies
with the international standards, creating legislative good bases
for the organization of the elections in a best way. As he assessed,
the Electoral Code creates opportunities to activate the voters’
participation and improve the election lists and prevent the
election riggings. Mr. Krotov also said that in February the head
of the observation mission Mr. Anatoly Torshin is going to meet the
authorities of Armenia, chairman of the Central Electoral Commission
and the candidates of the presidential elections, who will express
wish.

At the meeting issues concerning the improvement of the CIS
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly works, which will be under discussion
at the IPA CIS April session, were also discussed.