DID OBSERVERS FOLLOW THE ELECTION WITH STARING EYES?
A1+
05:35 pm | June 01, 2009
Politics
"Yerevan municipal elections were largely conducted in compliance
with European standards," says the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities of the Council of Europe. The observation mission today
expressed its satisfaction with the electoral processes but their
words aroused doubt among the reporters.
"We are upset that you don’t believe us," head of the delegation
Nigel Mermagen declared.
"There has been no election in Armenia before, during which so many
cases of violence against reporters were recorded as was the case
with May 31 mayoral election. Does it meet European standards, too?
"It is outside our competence. But we have reached such information
and we will take it into account in our final report", said Nigel
Mermagen. The observers noted that their mission is aimed at disclosing
and recording election frauds and vote violations.
Reporter of "168 Zham" newspaper Armine Avetyan reminded Mr. Mermagen
that she had reported them on election frauds and beatings the
day before.
"You were listening to my story so indifferently that I became
convinced that the election would be rigged," said Mrs. Avetyan.
Note that yesterday while the observers were dining at the "Triumph"
cafe ballots were being stuffed in boxes.
A1+ wondered how long the observers had been out of polling stations.
In reply, Mr. Mermagen said that the observers had visited all polling
stations, followed the vote count with staring eyes and returned to
the hotel after midnight.
Mr. Mermagen couldn’t remember how many polling stations they had
visited. He also noted that the observation delegation had arrived
in Armenia on May 27 and they had been unable to follow TV coverage
of electoral processes.
Mr. Mermagen refrained to mention any shortcomings during the vote. The
final report will be presented at the PACE autumn session. "We have
to make a thorough report where we will present the details", said
the head of the CoE delegation.
Asked how they can assess the election outcome as positive if they
still have to make a final report, Mr. Mermagen said: "I am sorry
that you don’t believe us."