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VOTE 2013: PACE HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNS OVER VOTER LISTS, POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT IN ARMENIA
VOTE 2013 | 18.01.13 | 13:10
By GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
A delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), which was on a two-day visit to Armenia to assess the
pre-election situation in the country, has concerns mainly about the
"continuing substantial inaccuracies in the voter lists".
The main PACE delegation consisting of 22 observers will arrive
in Yerevan a few days before the election to observe the electoral
process, but the observations made before that are already alarming.
Head of the PACE election monitoring mission Karin Woldseth said
that "the delegation was disappointed to see that the previous
recommendations regarding the voter lists have not been implemented",
whereas "accurate voter lists are an essential prerequisite for any
proper election."
The head of the delegation, speaking about the political situation in
Armenia, characterized it as "unfortunate" because "a month before the
voting the public does not have a sufficient interest, or confidence
in the electoral process", which has been created because of the
decision by the main political parties not to field candidates,
which also accounts for the distrust towards the electoral process.
"This decision has limited voters' choice, leading to a more
regrettable situation and casting the shadow of general indifference
and mistrust over the upcoming elections," said Woldseth.
But members of the delegation find it commendable that the political
forces in question did not follow that decision with calls for a
boycott. They think that a boycott should be avoided as "voting is
a major democratic value."
Members of the observation mission also touched upon alleged vote
buying practices and use of administrative resources in Armenian
elections. They are fairly optimistic on this account.
"Of course, we are against election bribes, and allegations on
this account have also reached us. We have discussed the issue
with representatives of the police, so that steps be taken in this
direction. Let's hope it does not happen again," said Woldseth in an
interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service.
Problems regarding the extensive use of administrative resources and
threats, according to the observers, "have been addressed so as to
exclude the repetition of such phenomena."
A week before, 24 long-term observers from the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) arrived in Armenia to start their
mission, with 250 short-term observers expected to arrive shortly
before the election scheduled for February 18. OSCE/ODIHR observers
are also hopeful that the Armenian authorities conduct elections in
accordance with international standards.
"We have come here to observe and not to criticize or make some
impositions," stressed OSCE/ODIHR mission head Heidi Tagliavini in
recent remarks.
VOTE 2013 | 18.01.13 | 13:10
By GAYANE ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
A delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), which was on a two-day visit to Armenia to assess the
pre-election situation in the country, has concerns mainly about the
"continuing substantial inaccuracies in the voter lists".
The main PACE delegation consisting of 22 observers will arrive
in Yerevan a few days before the election to observe the electoral
process, but the observations made before that are already alarming.
Head of the PACE election monitoring mission Karin Woldseth said
that "the delegation was disappointed to see that the previous
recommendations regarding the voter lists have not been implemented",
whereas "accurate voter lists are an essential prerequisite for any
proper election."
The head of the delegation, speaking about the political situation in
Armenia, characterized it as "unfortunate" because "a month before the
voting the public does not have a sufficient interest, or confidence
in the electoral process", which has been created because of the
decision by the main political parties not to field candidates,
which also accounts for the distrust towards the electoral process.
"This decision has limited voters' choice, leading to a more
regrettable situation and casting the shadow of general indifference
and mistrust over the upcoming elections," said Woldseth.
But members of the delegation find it commendable that the political
forces in question did not follow that decision with calls for a
boycott. They think that a boycott should be avoided as "voting is
a major democratic value."
Members of the observation mission also touched upon alleged vote
buying practices and use of administrative resources in Armenian
elections. They are fairly optimistic on this account.
"Of course, we are against election bribes, and allegations on
this account have also reached us. We have discussed the issue
with representatives of the police, so that steps be taken in this
direction. Let's hope it does not happen again," said Woldseth in an
interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service.
Problems regarding the extensive use of administrative resources and
threats, according to the observers, "have been addressed so as to
exclude the repetition of such phenomena."
A week before, 24 long-term observers from the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) arrived in Armenia to start their
mission, with 250 short-term observers expected to arrive shortly
before the election scheduled for February 18. OSCE/ODIHR observers
are also hopeful that the Armenian authorities conduct elections in
accordance with international standards.
"We have come here to observe and not to criticize or make some
impositions," stressed OSCE/ODIHR mission head Heidi Tagliavini in
recent remarks.