Interfax News Agency, Russia
Russia & CIS General Newswire
February 17, 2008 Sunday 2:33 PM MSK
Ample conditions created in Armenia for free election – CIS observers
YEREVAN Feb 17
Observers from countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS), monitoring the Armenian presidential election, have released a
second interim report which says that Armenia’s electoral code was
drafted in compliance with the convention on democratic election
standards, and the electoral rights and liberties in CIS countries.
"In the opinion of CIS observers, the main preparations for the
Armenian presidential election are proceeding in line with the
electoral code. The country’s legislative and executive authorities
have created proper conditions for a free and open election
campaign," says the report, circulated on Sunday.
"The law on the presidential election has no provisions that would
set discriminatory curbs on citizens’ electoral rights or involve
citizens’ inequality before the law," it says.
Armenia’s electoral code "guarantees a solid foundation for free and
democratic elections," the CIS observers said.
The Armenian Central Election Commission has formed 41 territorial
and 1,923 district electoral commissions, the report says.
"The Central Elections Commission is working openly, its meetings
were attended by international observers, representatives of the
public and journalists, who provided immediate coverage of the
decisions made," it says.
Following visits to territorial commissions the mission stated that
their work was open. "Observers were given the right to assess the
territorial commission’s work without any restrictions," the report
says.
The canvassing campaign is proceeding in compliance with the Armenian
electoral code, "correctly and quietly," they said.
Within the framework of the monitoring mission, its headquarters
analyze complaints about irregularities uncovered.
"The CIS observers state that complaints about irregularities
uncovered are analyzed in accordance with the Armenian legislation,"
the reports says.
The Armenia presidential election is due to take place on February
19.