EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF PLEASED WITH IEOM REPORT ON ARMENIAN ELECTION

ARMENPRESS
Feb 21, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: EU High Representative for the Common
Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, said he was pleased with the
preliminary report of the International Election Observation Mission
(IEOM) on Armenian presidential election, which has found that ‘the
February 19 presidential election was conducted mostly in line with
the country’s international commitments, although further improvements
are necessary to address remaining challenges."

Solana welcomed the high voter turnout and urged Armenian authorities
to investigate carefully all reported cases of vote fraud and
irregularities.

In a statement Solana said the European Union hopes that electing
Serzh Sarkisian as Armenia’s new president, will step up efforts for
seeking a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"Being elected as a new president of Armenia gives Serzh Sarkisian new
opportunities to improve Armenia’s relations with its neighbors. This
includes resumption of efforts for resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict," he said.

The statement says that the EU assist the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts
and will provide assistance to the conflict resolution process.

The statement says also that the EU remains committed to strengthening
ties with Armenia as part of the European Neighborhood Program