Council of Europe Congress mission assesses pre-electoral situation in
Armenia

Yerevan, 06.05.2009 – In view of the first municipal elections in the
Armenian capital city of Yerevan, on 31 May 2009, a pre-electoral
mission of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities was carried out from 3 to 6 May.

The three-member delegation – Congress Vice-President Fabio Pellegrini
(Italy, SOC), Michel Guégan (France, NR) and Nigel Mermagen (UK, ILDG)
– met with government and city officials, candidates from most of the
political factions, as well as with NGO representatives and the media.
In addition, the delegation met a group of Ambassadors of European and
non-European countries.

The people that the delegation spoke to underlined the particular
importance of these elections for local democracy in Armenia and the
political situation in the country as a whole. The Congress delegation
understood that there were threats to the proper conduct of these
elections, in particular with respect to the registration and
mobilisation of voters, the counting of votes, and media objectivity in
the campaign.

The delegation had the overall impression that the institutional and
political role of the Mayor is in danger of being sidelined by a harsh
confrontation between the political factions which are in power and the
opposition. "We are concerned that the real needs of the citizens of
Yerevan could be brushed aside because of this confrontation," said
Fabio Pellegrini at the end of the mission.

"The Congress is aware of the importance and the specific character of
these elections. As the only institutional observers of these elections,
we will take these aspects into account during our observation mission,
which will be carried out at the end of May," stressed Nigel Mermagen.

"Despite the concerns which were raised during our mission, we are
confident that the Armenian authorities will do their utmost to conduct
these elections in a decent way in line with European standards,"
concluded Michel Guégan.

The Congress will be the only international organisation to observe the
elections on 31 May.

More information is available at

Press Release
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Communication Division
Ref: 372a09
Tel. +33 (0)3 90 21 49 36
Fax +33 (0)3 88 41 27 51
Internet:
e-mail: congress.com@coe.int

The Congress has two chambers, the Chamber of Local Authorities and the
Chamber of Regions.
It brings together 318 full and 318 substitute members representing more
than 200 000 European territorial communities.
President of the Congress: Yavuz Mildon (Turkey, EPP/CD), President of
the Chamber of Regions: Ludmila Sfirloaga (Romania, SOC),

President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Ian Micallef (Malta,
EPP/CD).
Political Groups: Socialist Group (SOC), Group of the European People’s
Party – Christian Democrats (EPP/CD),
Independent and Liberal Democrat Group (ILDG).