Interfax News Agency, Russia
Russia & CIS Presidential Bulletin
February 14, 2008

VOTING PAPERS BEING TAKEN TO ARMENIAN POLLING STATIONS

Voting papers are being delivered to polling stations in Armenia, the
Central Elections Commission told Interfax.A total of 1.5 million
voting papers have been printed as yet, and the final number will
stand at 2.39 million, commission spokesman Tatev Oganyan said.

Voting papers will be delivered to district election commissions on
February 14 and 15, and election commissions in Yerevan on February
16, she said.

The media, election commission members, election observers and
campaign representatives can watch the delivery, Oganyan said.

The commission has received 23 complaints. It must give an answer
within five days, Oganyan said.

Armenia will elect the president on February 19, 2008. There are nine
candidates in this campaign.

The Armenian Union of Russia will support Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan in the upcoming election, Union Chairman Ara Abramyan said
earlier.

We have been cooperating with Sargsyan for a decade, and we want him
for president, Abramyan said.

He added that the Union would give support only to the candidate, who
prioritized Armenia-Russia cooperation.

Hence, the Union views Sargsyan as the best candidate, Abramyan said.
He also urged Armenians to vote for their choice.

I am a citizen of Russia and thus cannot take part in the Armenian
presidential election. However, many of the 300,000 Armenian citizens
who live in Russia daily ask the Union which particular candidate it
will support, he said.

Sargsyan is helping the implementation of the Union programs in
Armenia, Abramyan said.

He noted that Armenia must have peaceful, transparent and legitimate
elections.

Everything must be done to hold the Armenian presidential election
peacefully, transparent and legally. The election must be free and
fair, so that all candidates of Armenia calmly choose the most
acceptable candidate, he said.