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KOCHARIAN HAILS 'FREE AND FAIR' ELECTIONS
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech rep.
May 14 2007
President Robert Kocharian congratulated Armenians Monday on his
administration's conduct of the weekend parliamentary elections,
saying that they were free and fair and marked "another major step
towards democracy."
"[The elections] were free, fair, and transparent, which is certified
by the Central Election Commission, law-enforcement bodies, as well
as local and international observers," he said in a written address
to the nation. "I congratulate all of us on taking yet another step
towards democracy."
Kocharian said authorities will "meticulously examine" and redress
all irregularities reported during the vote. He also urged election
contenders to end election-related recriminations and "restore the
atmosphere of mutual tolerance" now that the official vote results
have been announced.
According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), the Republican
Party (HHK) of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian won about 34 percent of
the vote and will control nearly half of the 131 seats in the National
Assembly. The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) of Kocharian-connected
tycoon Gagik Tsarukian came in a distant second, followed by another
major pro-presidential party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun.)
Kocharian visited the HHK headquarters in downtown Yerevan to
congratulate it on the landslide victory on Monday. He also extended
congratulations to Tsarukian and other BHK leaders that visited the
presidential palace later in the day.
The CEC figures showed the BHK winning just over 200,000 votes, or
half the number of members the party claims to have. Tsarukian clearly
hoped for a better performance. The party, which will likely have just
over 20 parliament seats, has yet to react to the election outcome.
Dashnaktsutyun, which was given 13 percent of the vote, will comment
on the official tally on Tuesday. Kocharian telephoned a top leader of
Dashnaktsutyun, Hrant Markarian, on Monday to praise the nationalist
party's showing.
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech rep.
May 14 2007
President Robert Kocharian congratulated Armenians Monday on his
administration's conduct of the weekend parliamentary elections,
saying that they were free and fair and marked "another major step
towards democracy."
"[The elections] were free, fair, and transparent, which is certified
by the Central Election Commission, law-enforcement bodies, as well
as local and international observers," he said in a written address
to the nation. "I congratulate all of us on taking yet another step
towards democracy."
Kocharian said authorities will "meticulously examine" and redress
all irregularities reported during the vote. He also urged election
contenders to end election-related recriminations and "restore the
atmosphere of mutual tolerance" now that the official vote results
have been announced.
According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), the Republican
Party (HHK) of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian won about 34 percent of
the vote and will control nearly half of the 131 seats in the National
Assembly. The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) of Kocharian-connected
tycoon Gagik Tsarukian came in a distant second, followed by another
major pro-presidential party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun.)
Kocharian visited the HHK headquarters in downtown Yerevan to
congratulate it on the landslide victory on Monday. He also extended
congratulations to Tsarukian and other BHK leaders that visited the
presidential palace later in the day.
The CEC figures showed the BHK winning just over 200,000 votes, or
half the number of members the party claims to have. Tsarukian clearly
hoped for a better performance. The party, which will likely have just
over 20 parliament seats, has yet to react to the election outcome.
Dashnaktsutyun, which was given 13 percent of the vote, will comment
on the official tally on Tuesday. Kocharian telephoned a top leader of
Dashnaktsutyun, Hrant Markarian, on Monday to praise the nationalist
party's showing.