STATE DEPARTMENT CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF ARMENIA ON OCCASION OF ACTIVE AND COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 25, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The State Department of the United
States of America has made a statement, in which it has congratulated
the people of Armenia "on the occasion of the February 19 active
and competitive elections." This information is reported by the
Radio Liberty.

"We congratulate the people of Armenia on the occasion of the February
19 active and competitive presidential elections and take into
consideration the preliminary mark of the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly,
according to which the elections "have mainly corresponded to the
committments and standards of the OSCE and the Council of Europe
concerning democratic elections," Tom Keisy, the Vice Speaker of
the State Department declared and added: "At the same time, we also
mention that the international observers have recorded essential
problems connected with electoral procedures."

Giving a positive mark to the response of the electoral bodies of
Armenia and the recalculation held in a number of electoral districts,
the State Department persuades the government of Armenia "to provide
a complete and transparent implementation of those recalculations,
to investigate all the claims concerning the infringements and take
steps for the purpose of improving the further elections."

"We also call the political forces to continue to follow the law and
work peacefully and with responsibility for a democratic Armenia,"
is said in the statement of the Vice Speaker.