HIGH TURNOUT EXPECTED IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Feb 7 2008

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. High turnout is expected in the
upcoming presidential election in Armenia, Karen Andreasyan, lawyer
for the program "Legal Initiative: Presidential Election 2008" and
representative of the American Bar Association (ABA/CEELI), told a
press conference.

"Even now, numerous citizens who intend to take part in the voting
in the presidential election apply to us for free legal advice and
protection of their voting rights," he said.

According to Andreasyan, by February 7, the legal initiative, which
launched its activities a fortnight ago, has processed over 300 calls,
which is more than the number of calls the initiative received during
its two-month activities in the 2007 parliamentary elections.

Andreasyan reported that many citizens ask about the voting procedure
for people registered in one region, but residing in another. He
pointed out that the second important question is the provision of
information on the location of poling stations, candidates’ election
staffs, and inaccuracies in voters’ lists.

"Our legal initiative also provides legal advice to the presidential
candidates. Particularly, Arman Melikyan applied to us for help,"
Andreasyan said.

The legal initiative was founded last December and first tested in
the parliamentary elections on May 12, 2007. At present, the Legal
Initiative: Presidential Election 2008 unites 52 nongovernmental
organizations in all Armenian regions.

The presidential election is to be held in Armenia on February 19.