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The World Considers The Issue of The Armenian Elections Exhausted

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  • The World Considers The Issue of The Armenian Elections Exhausted

    THE WORLD CONSIDERS THE ISSUE OF THE ARMENIAN ELECTIONS EXHAUSTED

    `HAYOTS ASHKHARH'
    Published on February 22, 2008


    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.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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