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PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA TO BECOME IMPORTANT INDEX FOR DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS IN ARMENIA, IS MENTIONED IN OSCE/ODIHR REPORT
Noyan Tapan
Feb 20 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The parliamentary elections to
be held in Armenia on May 12 will become an important index of the
democratic progress in the country. This is said in the report of the
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR),
in which results of the Needs Assessment Mission implemented by the
organization from January 30 to February 2 are summed up. According
to the OSCE/ODIHR, though the amended Electoral Code of Armenia
gives basis for "honourably and comprehensively" holding democratic
elections, but "the coming elections will first of all demand greater
political will and dilligent usage of the legislation for holding
them in correspondence with the obligations undertaken before the
OSCE." The organization emphasizes that authors of the violations
taken place during the president's and parliamentary elections held
in Armenia in 2003 were not held to answer what creates an atmosphere
of unpunishment.
"Though the amended electoral code gives possibility of a more
balanced structure of commissions, however, there are still anxieties,
especially, from the side of the opposition, relating to impartiality
of electoral commissions' administration. Liquidation of the quorum
when making decisions by electoral commissions assists those anxieties,
is said in the report.
According to the organization, political parties in Armenia are more
based on individuals than on platforms or social groups. "The new
pro-governmental "Bargavach Hayastan" (Prosperous Armenia) party which
has functioned since March, 2006, established a wide party net in all
the regions, according to the information, with more than 500 offices
and 370 thousand members," is said in the report. "It was involved
in the charity activity throughout the world what is criticized
as a premature electoral campaign and electoral bribe." "The Needs
Assessment Mission got complaints, according to which, employees of
public enterprises as well as health care and educations institutions
are obliged to join political parties," the OSCE/ODIHR mentions.
As for accessibility of mass media, the organization emphasizes that
"though accessibility of public and private mass media is guaranted
by the law during the official propaganda, however, the opposition
insists that accessibility of mass media before official start of
campaign is very limited."
"Two bodies coordinate electronic mass media: the Television and Radio
National Committee licenses and controls private broadcasters, and
the Public Television and Radio Council controls public mass media,"
the OSCE/ODIHR mentions, emphasizing that all the members of the
coordinating bodies are directly appointed by the country President.
"Two independent TV channels: "A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" which lost their
licences, correspondingly, in 2002 and 2001, remain without frequency
in spite of participation in numerous competitions. Experts on mass
media consider refusal of licences as a clear address directed to
other mass media which are afraid of losing their licences and work
in the atmosphere of self-censorship," is said in the report.
The Needs Assessment Mission proposed to create a mission for
observation of elections, to send on mission 24 long-term observers
in the middle of March, and 300 short-term observers during the
elections days.
Noyan Tapan
Feb 20 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The parliamentary elections to
be held in Armenia on May 12 will become an important index of the
democratic progress in the country. This is said in the report of the
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR),
in which results of the Needs Assessment Mission implemented by the
organization from January 30 to February 2 are summed up. According
to the OSCE/ODIHR, though the amended Electoral Code of Armenia
gives basis for "honourably and comprehensively" holding democratic
elections, but "the coming elections will first of all demand greater
political will and dilligent usage of the legislation for holding
them in correspondence with the obligations undertaken before the
OSCE." The organization emphasizes that authors of the violations
taken place during the president's and parliamentary elections held
in Armenia in 2003 were not held to answer what creates an atmosphere
of unpunishment.
"Though the amended electoral code gives possibility of a more
balanced structure of commissions, however, there are still anxieties,
especially, from the side of the opposition, relating to impartiality
of electoral commissions' administration. Liquidation of the quorum
when making decisions by electoral commissions assists those anxieties,
is said in the report.
According to the organization, political parties in Armenia are more
based on individuals than on platforms or social groups. "The new
pro-governmental "Bargavach Hayastan" (Prosperous Armenia) party which
has functioned since March, 2006, established a wide party net in all
the regions, according to the information, with more than 500 offices
and 370 thousand members," is said in the report. "It was involved
in the charity activity throughout the world what is criticized
as a premature electoral campaign and electoral bribe." "The Needs
Assessment Mission got complaints, according to which, employees of
public enterprises as well as health care and educations institutions
are obliged to join political parties," the OSCE/ODIHR mentions.
As for accessibility of mass media, the organization emphasizes that
"though accessibility of public and private mass media is guaranted
by the law during the official propaganda, however, the opposition
insists that accessibility of mass media before official start of
campaign is very limited."
"Two bodies coordinate electronic mass media: the Television and Radio
National Committee licenses and controls private broadcasters, and
the Public Television and Radio Council controls public mass media,"
the OSCE/ODIHR mentions, emphasizing that all the members of the
coordinating bodies are directly appointed by the country President.
"Two independent TV channels: "A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" which lost their
licences, correspondingly, in 2002 and 2001, remain without frequency
in spite of participation in numerous competitions. Experts on mass
media consider refusal of licences as a clear address directed to
other mass media which are afraid of losing their licences and work
in the atmosphere of self-censorship," is said in the report.
The Needs Assessment Mission proposed to create a mission for
observation of elections, to send on mission 24 long-term observers
in the middle of March, and 300 short-term observers during the
elections days.