ARMENIA HOLDS TRANSPARENT AND FREE ELECTIONS

The group of 193 observers from CIS countries announced about the end of their mission yesterday. The office of the CIS observation mission, which has started to follow the election process still from January 22 and the branches located in Gyumry, Vanadsor and Kapan, by the representation of the Vice-Chair of RF Federal Council Federal Assembly Alexander Torshin have monitored 1232, and during the day of voting - 1052 precincts.
The document based on the results of the observation was ready and yesterday A. Torshin publicized it. “I would like to mention, and we all share the same opinion in this issue, that all the legal, organizational and technical conditions were created for the international and local observers.
As regards the legislation, I must say that the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia provides all the opportunities for holding free and democratic elections. However the observers from CIS countries expressed an opinion that some of the clauses must be specified and perfected in future. For example the disabled, who can’t move, are in fact deprived of the right to vote independently. In our view these people must be given the chance to vote somewhere out of the precinct.”
It is mentioned in the announcement made by the CIS observers that in their conclusions and assessments the mission has been based on the results of their personal monitoring.
According to CIS observers: “ RA executive bodies, electoral committees have provided the protection of the citizens’ right to elect. The observers state that the voting flaws recorded during the election were mainly of technical character and didn’t have an essential influence on the election returns and the manifestation of the voters’ free will.”
The mission considers the elections to be held in conformity with the country’s Electoral Code and are recognized as transparent and free elections.
First Assistant of the Head of the Committee on CIS Issues in State Duma Konstantin Zatulin, who has worked in many observation missions and has recently followed the process of the presidential elections in Serbia said: “ People are very sensitive about the transparency of the elections in Armenia and I must say that as compared with other countries, in this issue additional measures have really been taken in this country. For example in our country, in the Russian Federation, we don’t put a stamp in passports and we never fix lists with the stamp of the committees in the constituencies.
But we would like to bring your attention to the section in our announcement where we delicately hinted that some candidates have already announced about not recognizing the election returns in case of their defeat. It is far not a manifestation of democracy, when people think that they must win in any case. I have run for elections many times, 2 times I have lost and 3 times I have won. The most dangerous thing is when you think that everyone loves you and they will definitely vote for you. But a mature, professional political figure must be responsible for his actions not to meet a deadlock.”
Konstantin Zatulin often visits Armenia and we must underscore that he follows the developments taking place in Armenia not only as an observer but also as a friend. “One thing I can’t understand, what did the candidate who has managed to argue with all the other candidates on the threshold of the elections, expect. As far as I understood in his speeches, Levon Ter-Petrosyan who was out of active politics for the last 10 years, showed only irritation, instead of responsibility. And the latter, by the way is a bad guide and a bad adviser in politics.
During different conferences before the elections I have already said that I can’t understand how can a liable person such as Armenia’s First President call for destabilization. It is not late for anyone who makes similar appeals to think about the future of Armenia.”
NAIRA KHACHATRYAN

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