THE WORLD CONSIDERS THE ISSUE OF THE ARMENIAN ELECTIONS EXHAUSTED

As shown by the clear-cut assessments made by a great number of international observation missions on the day following the presidential elections, the international community recognizes the results of the voting held in Armenia. It means that our country already has a legitimate President elected through the expression of the free will of the majority of its people.
The February 19 presidential elections were not only characterized as “free and fair” by the CIS observers, but also received the positive assessments of the Western observation missions. Even the observation mission of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which stands out in terms of its strict and meticulous attitude towards the electoral processes held in the former USSR territory, clearly recorded that, “The presidential elections held in Armenia on February 19 were mostly in line with the commitments to the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The senior state officials made real efforts towards the elimination of the flaws observed during the past elections, including the legislative field, and periodically insisted that they intended to hold democratic elections.”
It is noteworthy that the representatives of the Western observation missions are from now on almost ruling out any real possibility of essential differences between their preliminary and final assessments.
In this connection, Gert Arens, Head of the long-term observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, made the following statement on February 20, “As shown by the experience of the past, there doesn’t often emerge the necessity of making any changes in or corrections to the preliminary statements. All the 4 international organizations have agreed on the principal assessment submitted.” The congratulatory messages received by S. Sargsyan on February 20 also testify to the recognition of the election results by the international community. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation is, as always, among the first officials congratulating the new leader of Armenia. However, in the current “parade of congratulations”, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has appeared on top of all. His congratulatory address is the first not only in time aspect but also in terms of the abundance of kind wishes, “The significant advantage You had at the very first stage of the voting testifies to the support You enjoy in your country,” the President of France wrote.
The warm and sincere congratulations of the President of France, a country considered as Armenia’s protector, testify that the international community has not only recognized the results of the February 19 presidential elections, but also rules out the possibility of reviewing them.
This is not at all a formal step of congratulating the Armenian Prime Minister on the occasion of being elected a President. It is rather an undisguised hint to all those who have not yet put up with the voting results in our country. By this, the Western community not only clarifies the preferences it has in Armenia but also lays a specific kind of “political obstacle” to the possible steps of disputing the election results through a confrontation.
They make it clear to the Opposition representatives, currently attempting to exacerbate the country’s political situation, that the issue of the presidential elections held on February 19, 2008 is already exhausted for the West.
In the post-election period, the representatives of the CIS observation missions, in particular, Kostan Zatoulin, Parliamentarian of the State Duma and Head of the CIS Institute of Russia, have already made speeches from the same starting point.
It is significant that only L. Ter-Petrosyan and Azerbaijan currently express dissatisfaction with the positive assessments made by the international observation missions, particularly, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, with regard to the presidential elections of Armenia.
As for the international community, by its clear-cut positive assessments regarding the February 19 elections, it has exhausted the issue of clarifying the personality of the Armenian President both for itself and for us. The train has already left, and no one can catch it any longer; therefore, in vain do some people think that it is possible to turn back the wheel of history by such methods. Armenia is entering the post-election stage envisaging political discussions and agreements in connection with the formation of the new Government.
Any attempt aiming to dispute the results of the elections that are already over may hereafter be not only ineffective but also harmful to our country and people. It may produce a negative impact not only on the internal political situation, but also greatly harm Armenia’s reputation and rating.
“HAYOTS ASHKHARH”

| Home | >>

E-mail article | Discuss article new!

RSS © Hayots Ashkhar

Headlines for February 22, 2008

THE WORLD CONSIDERS THE ISSUE OF THE ARMENIAN ELECTIONS EXHAUSTED
“HAYOTS ASHKHARH”
As shown by the clear-cut assessments made by a great number of international observation missions on the day following the presidential elections, the international community recognizes the results of ...
OUR CANDIDATE GAINS A VICTORY WITH THE COGENT VOTE OF THE ELECTORS
LILIT POGHOSYAN
We are speaking with the member of NA Republican faction Armen Ashotyan. “How would you portray the election returns? Are you satisfied with them?” “We are completely satisfied with the election ...
ALL THE STEPS ARE PROGRESSIVE AFTER 1996
GEVORG HARUTYUNYAN
Interview with the Chairman of the National Democratic Party Shavarsh Kocharyan. “Mr. Kocharyan the presidential elections were estimated by all the foreign observers as an evident progress in the ...
SOLANA EXPRESSES SATISFACTION
Javier Solana, High Commissioner for the EU General Foreign and Security Policy Issues, has expressed satisfaction with the preliminary assessments made by the International Mission of Observers with ...
THE U.S. DOES NOT QUESTION THE OUTCOME ARMENIA’S ELECTION
“We are not questioning the outcome of Armenia’s election,” US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State MATTHEW BRYZA announced. Mr. Bryza has made his comments upon State Department representative Edgar ...