Armenian MPs And International Experts Start Discussing Amendments T

ARMENIAN MPs AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS START DISCUSSING AMENDMENTS TO ARMENIA’S ELECTORAL CODE

ARMINFO News Agency
September 27, 2006 Wednesday

Today Armenian MPs and Venice Commission experts have started
discussing draft amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code.

All parliamentary forces except Justice opposition bloc are taking
part in the discussions.

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torossyan says that the
discussions were constructive and specific. The sides discussed
6 points Armenia’s political forces have failed to agree on,
particularly, the procedure of appeal against election results and
voting. Tomorrow the sides will sum up the proposals made today and
will submit the document for the Armenian Parliament’s approval within
a month.

The member of the Venice Commission Gael Martin-Micallef (France)
says that the document has been substantially improved but there
are still many unacceptable and moot points. The Venice Commission
has made 13 recommendations, particularly, on the order of electoral
commission formation.

Concerning Justice bloc’s recalling its signature under the document
Martin-Micallef says that he was unaware of it, he has just learned
the news and deeply regrets at it.