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U.S. EXPECTS POSITIVE DECISION OF ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT ON HOLDING EXIT POLL DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Noyan Tapan
Dec 17 2007
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The United States considers
that the RA National Assembly elections held in May were a step
forward in development of democracy in Armenia. As Joseph Pennington,
Charge d'Affaires of the United States, said at the December 17 press
conference, the Unites States hopes that the presidential elections
of February, 2008 will be a step forward, as compared with the May
elections.
He refused to comment upon the issue of whether the amendments of the
electoral legislation made just two months before the elections will
have a positive impact on the holding of the elections. At the same
time, the American diplomat stated that the U.S. is for any efforts
aimed at holding the elections in line with international standards.
J. Pennington reminded that as far back as before the parliamentary
elections, the United States started implementing a large-scale
program in Armenia aimed at perfection of electoral processes. The
program includes checking of lists, holding of training seminars
for representatives of political parties and members of electoral
commissions. According to him, the United States is a little
disappointed that this time CEC has not espressed such readiness as
in May in the issue of its members' retraining.
As regards holding an exit poll in Armenia, J. Pennington said that
similar surveys are held by the U.S. in many other countries. According
to him, these surveys have two purposes: they contribute to rise of
population's confidence to electoral processes and the second, thanks
to the surveys it is cleared up what strata of country's population go
to polls and with what purpose. He said that interrogation of voters
after the voting will help to present Armenian society better from
the political point of view.
J. Pennington said that the exit poll will be held in Armenia by
the International Republican Institute, which has a rich experience
in holding of such polls. He stated that the United States is very
grateful to the Armenian Prime Minister for his approval of holding
an exit poll and expects the RA government to make a positive decision
over that issue.
Noyan Tapan
Dec 17 2007
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The United States considers
that the RA National Assembly elections held in May were a step
forward in development of democracy in Armenia. As Joseph Pennington,
Charge d'Affaires of the United States, said at the December 17 press
conference, the Unites States hopes that the presidential elections
of February, 2008 will be a step forward, as compared with the May
elections.
He refused to comment upon the issue of whether the amendments of the
electoral legislation made just two months before the elections will
have a positive impact on the holding of the elections. At the same
time, the American diplomat stated that the U.S. is for any efforts
aimed at holding the elections in line with international standards.
J. Pennington reminded that as far back as before the parliamentary
elections, the United States started implementing a large-scale
program in Armenia aimed at perfection of electoral processes. The
program includes checking of lists, holding of training seminars
for representatives of political parties and members of electoral
commissions. According to him, the United States is a little
disappointed that this time CEC has not espressed such readiness as
in May in the issue of its members' retraining.
As regards holding an exit poll in Armenia, J. Pennington said that
similar surveys are held by the U.S. in many other countries. According
to him, these surveys have two purposes: they contribute to rise of
population's confidence to electoral processes and the second, thanks
to the surveys it is cleared up what strata of country's population go
to polls and with what purpose. He said that interrogation of voters
after the voting will help to present Armenian society better from
the political point of view.
J. Pennington said that the exit poll will be held in Armenia by
the International Republican Institute, which has a rich experience
in holding of such polls. He stated that the United States is very
grateful to the Armenian Prime Minister for his approval of holding
an exit poll and expects the RA government to make a positive decision
over that issue.