OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE CALLS AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION FOR ACTING WITHIN LAW
Noyan Tapan
Feb 26, 2008
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. OSCE is going to very attentively
keep up with the post-electoral processes in Armenia. Ilkka Kanerva,
the Foreign Minister of Finland, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, stated at
the February 26 joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian.
According to him, the preliminary report of the OSCE/ ODIHR observation
mission includes both positive and negative elements. I. Kanerva called
both sides, both the authorities and the opposition for following the
recommendations made in the report of the OSCE observers. He expressed
the hope that the Armenian government will improve the shortcomings
of the elections.
In response to the question of whether the OSCE Chairman-in-Office is
aware of many facts of throwing in ballot-papers into ballot-boxes,
beatings of empowered people of the opposition candidate, as well as
armed attacks upon polling stations, Kanerva said: "I am rather well
informed about the details, which took place not only on the elections
day, but also after the elections." He added that naturally he is not
familiar with all details of the facts. Ilkka Kanerva said that he is
very well acquainted with the preliminary report of the OSCE/ ODIHR
observation mission and supports everything written in it. Kanerva
regretted to say that the mission’s final report will be ready only
in April. At the same time, according to him, a report made within a
long time is worthy of much more confidence than a report made within
one or two days.
Ilkka Kanerva characterized the post-electoral situation in Armenia
as complicated, as the opposition does not accept the results of the
elections and is going to appeal against them. He called both the
authorities and the opposition for finding a way out of the formed
complicated situation through organization of a dialogue. "I am sure
that all sides will act in the constructive spirit and within the
law. This is the only way, which will lead to a successful solution
of the problems," the Foreign Minister of Finland stated. He also
said that he is going to meet with Levon Ter-Petrosian.
Vardan Oskanian positively estimated the results of the visit of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office to Armenia. He said that issues concerning the
elections, the situation in the South Caucasian region, the issue of
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were discussed
during the meeting.
From: Baghdasarian