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Interfax, Russia
May 18 2012
U.S. ambassador praises Armenian elections
YEREVAN. May 18
United States Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said that noticeable
progress was made during the Armenian parliamentary elections on May
6, 2012.
We were closely monitoring the elections. We believe significant
progress has been achieved in some key areas. In particular, access to
mass media has improved, everything was transparent at polling
stations, elections officials were prepared, video cameras were
installed. We saw a lot of positive developments at these elections,
Heffern told Radio Liberty.
There were also shortcomings, which were mentioned in the report of
the OSCE/ODIHR (Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights)
representatives, he said.
Pre-election bribes and abuse of administrative resource continue to
remain a serious problem. Some work will have to be carried out before
the next election, the U.S. ambassador said.
The U.S. is working with the Armenian government to rectify
irregularities which took place during the elections, Heffern said.
In the parliamentary elections the Republic Party, led by the Armenian
president, won 44.5% votes, thus gaining a parliamentary majority.
kk rb
May 18 2012
U.S. ambassador praises Armenian elections
YEREVAN. May 18
United States Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said that noticeable
progress was made during the Armenian parliamentary elections on May
6, 2012.
We were closely monitoring the elections. We believe significant
progress has been achieved in some key areas. In particular, access to
mass media has improved, everything was transparent at polling
stations, elections officials were prepared, video cameras were
installed. We saw a lot of positive developments at these elections,
Heffern told Radio Liberty.
There were also shortcomings, which were mentioned in the report of
the OSCE/ODIHR (Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights)
representatives, he said.
Pre-election bribes and abuse of administrative resource continue to
remain a serious problem. Some work will have to be carried out before
the next election, the U.S. ambassador said.
The U.S. is working with the Armenian government to rectify
irregularities which took place during the elections, Heffern said.
In the parliamentary elections the Republic Party, led by the Armenian
president, won 44.5% votes, thus gaining a parliamentary majority.
kk rb