Tweet
ARMENIA'S 2013 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: CALM BUT NO REAL COMPETITION
Eurasia Review
Feb 19 2013
By Eurasia Review -- (February 19, 2013)
Armenia's presidential elections on Monday were calm but the campaign
lacked substantive political debate and real competition, as three
major opposition parties decided not to field candidates, reported
observer MEPs.
"We have observed a calm election day, characterised by no major
difficulties in procedures, following a somewhat quiet, low-key
election campaign with no substantive political debate or real
competition. This was due mainly to the decision by three major parties
not to field candidates", said EP delegation chair Milan Cabrnoch
(ECR, CZ), delivering the MEPs' preliminary observations in Yerevan
on Tuesday.
The delegation stressed that Armenia needs to restore faith in
electoral processes for the future and must deliver on democratic,
economic and social reforms with a view to concluding the EU-Armenia
Association Agreement.
MEPs also endorsed the preliminary findings of an election observation
mission sent by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) , headed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini.
Ms Tagliavini said that the elections themselves had been well run and
had respected the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression,
but that a lack of impartiality and the misuse of administrative
resources in campaign had "blurred the distinction between the
activities of the state and those of the ruling party".
http://www.eurasiareview.com/19022013-armenias-2013-presidential-elections-calm-but-no-real-competition/
Eurasia Review
Feb 19 2013
By Eurasia Review -- (February 19, 2013)
Armenia's presidential elections on Monday were calm but the campaign
lacked substantive political debate and real competition, as three
major opposition parties decided not to field candidates, reported
observer MEPs.
"We have observed a calm election day, characterised by no major
difficulties in procedures, following a somewhat quiet, low-key
election campaign with no substantive political debate or real
competition. This was due mainly to the decision by three major parties
not to field candidates", said EP delegation chair Milan Cabrnoch
(ECR, CZ), delivering the MEPs' preliminary observations in Yerevan
on Tuesday.
The delegation stressed that Armenia needs to restore faith in
electoral processes for the future and must deliver on democratic,
economic and social reforms with a view to concluding the EU-Armenia
Association Agreement.
MEPs also endorsed the preliminary findings of an election observation
mission sent by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) , headed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini.
Ms Tagliavini said that the elections themselves had been well run and
had respected the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression,
but that a lack of impartiality and the misuse of administrative
resources in campaign had "blurred the distinction between the
activities of the state and those of the ruling party".
http://www.eurasiareview.com/19022013-armenias-2013-presidential-elections-calm-but-no-real-competition/