CIS observers: electoral process in Armenia is proceeding normally
YEREVAN, June 16. /ARKA/. Based on reports from our long-term election observers dispatched by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the electoral process in Armenia is proceeding normally, the head of the CIS observer mission Ilham Nematov said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Nematov said they were informed in detail by the chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Tigran Mukuchyan about the election campaign, the preparations for voting, about how the polling stations are being prepared and what conditions are being created for observers.
"Our long-term observers arrived on May 31, the rest will arrive on the eve of the elections - June 18-19. Most of them will be deployed in Yerevan and many others will watch the elections in the regions," he said.
The head of the mission said that a coordinating council will be created with the participation of all observers to give an objective assessment of the vote. He said the observers are working exclusively on the basis of the laws of Armenia and, respecting them, will conduct impartial observation.
Nematov stressed that the observers team comprises very experienced workers, representatives of the CIS countries, the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, the CSTO Interparliamentary Assembly, the Russia-Belarus Interparliamentary Assembly and MPs.
"According to long-term observers, the Central Election Commission has done a lot of work in a relatively short time to prepare the electoral process. Trainings and education have been carried out, great attention is being paid to campaigning," he said.
"Armenia's new Electoral Code fully meets all democratic norms of international law and gives voters the opportunity to freely and openly express their will," he said.
Early elections to the National Assembly of Armenia are scheduled for June 20. The CEC has qualified 4 party blocs and 22 parties to run in the elections, but the Armenian Eagles party announced its refusal to participate in the election race. -0-
