U.S. Embassy in Armenia wishes all Armenian voters safe and productive elections

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. The United States Embassy in Yerevan wishes all its friends and patrons a safe and productive election day.

“Make your voice heard! Vote!” U.S. Embassy in Yerevan posted on its official Facebook page.

U.S. Ambassador John Heffern, on his side, tweeted, “Good morning voting Armenians. Hope you will go out to vote for the candidate of your choice today.”

According to Police official statements, as of 18 February 2 505 908 voters are listed in the electoral register of Armenia.

A total of 6,251 representatives of 26 local NGOs and 632 observers from twelve international organizations will be watching the presidential poll. In particular, the international observers’ missions are from OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, CIS mission, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, CE Parliamentary Assembly, CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, International expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES) and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

Under the Armenian legislature, preliminary results of the vote are to be announced not later than February 19, 20:00; the final results are to be unveiled within seven days.

Seven candidates are running for the country’s president today: incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian, well-known Soviet dissident and leader of Union for National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex- foreign minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Arman Melikyan, political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan and specialist in epic studies Vardan Sedrakyan. –0-