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ICES FORMS OBSERVATION MISSION TO MONITOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN ARMENIA
http://tert.am/en/news/2013/01/14/ices/
14.01.13
The International expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES) has
formed a mission to monitor the presidential election in Armenia
scheduled for February 18.
The 35-member mission will be headed by Dr. Alexander Tsinker. The
mission includes international experts from ten EU member-states,
United States and Israel.
The mission includes three groups: the political group (members
of the European Parliament and national parliaments, as well as
political scientists); legal group (lawyers and former diplomats);
and mass media group (political analysis and media representatives).
The eight long-term observers will start working on February 1, 2013.
The group plans meetings with the presidential candidates, head of
the parliamentary groups, members of the Central Electoral Commission
(CEC) and local election commissions, journalists. On February 15,
the ICES mission is to present its second interim report.
The short-term observers are to arrive in Armenia on February 14
to monitor the voting process, vote-counting procedure and summing
up of election returns. On the election day, all the observers will
move to Armenia's regions to monitor the voting process at as many
polling stations as possible.
The ICES mission has given a generally positive review of the manner,
in which the pre-election process has commenced and is being conducted.
~U The legal foundations of the election process in the Republic
of Armenia basically correspond to the international democratic
regulations. The Electoral Code quite fully describes all the
procedures of the election process. Strictly adhered to, the
Electoral Code may ensure the transparency of the election process
thus expressing the will of the country's citizens.
~U The Mission appreciates the fact that the current Electoral Code has
had no changes since its adoption in 2011, which gave all participants
of the electoral process sufficient time to plan out their activities.
~U The Central Election Commission of Armenia is conducting its work
professionally and in accordance with all requirements, schedules
and stages of the process as prescribed by the Electoral Code.
~U The Mission urges all candidates and their staffs to carry out
their pre-election activities with much responsibility, to facilitate
in establishment of peaceful and pleasant electoral atmosphere and
to refrain from making premature conclusions regarding the legitimacy
and democracy of the elections.
~U The Mission believes that even at the pre-election stage, all
participants in the electoral process must declare their willingness to
conduct honest and transparent campaign. They must also acknowledge the
legitimacy of the electoral process and its results - whether or not
they will meet their expectations. This is the essence of democracy.
~U The Mission expresses their hope that the pre-election campaign
period, the Elections Day itself and the process of vote counting and
results tabulation will be carried out in Armenia in accordance with
the Electoral legislation, without escalation of the current tensions,
and that these Presidential Elections will meet the international
standards.
~U The mission hopes that the rest of the pre-election period,
the Election Day and the results tabulation will be carried out in
Armenia within the legal framework, without aggravation of the current
political situation, and that the Elections will meet international
standards.
~U The final evaluation and conclusions of the mission on the
democratic nature of the parliamentary elections will be made only
upon completion of the electoral process.
From: Baghdasarian
http://tert.am/en/news/2013/01/14/ices/
14.01.13
The International expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES) has
formed a mission to monitor the presidential election in Armenia
scheduled for February 18.
The 35-member mission will be headed by Dr. Alexander Tsinker. The
mission includes international experts from ten EU member-states,
United States and Israel.
The mission includes three groups: the political group (members
of the European Parliament and national parliaments, as well as
political scientists); legal group (lawyers and former diplomats);
and mass media group (political analysis and media representatives).
The eight long-term observers will start working on February 1, 2013.
The group plans meetings with the presidential candidates, head of
the parliamentary groups, members of the Central Electoral Commission
(CEC) and local election commissions, journalists. On February 15,
the ICES mission is to present its second interim report.
The short-term observers are to arrive in Armenia on February 14
to monitor the voting process, vote-counting procedure and summing
up of election returns. On the election day, all the observers will
move to Armenia's regions to monitor the voting process at as many
polling stations as possible.
The ICES mission has given a generally positive review of the manner,
in which the pre-election process has commenced and is being conducted.
~U The legal foundations of the election process in the Republic
of Armenia basically correspond to the international democratic
regulations. The Electoral Code quite fully describes all the
procedures of the election process. Strictly adhered to, the
Electoral Code may ensure the transparency of the election process
thus expressing the will of the country's citizens.
~U The Mission appreciates the fact that the current Electoral Code has
had no changes since its adoption in 2011, which gave all participants
of the electoral process sufficient time to plan out their activities.
~U The Central Election Commission of Armenia is conducting its work
professionally and in accordance with all requirements, schedules
and stages of the process as prescribed by the Electoral Code.
~U The Mission urges all candidates and their staffs to carry out
their pre-election activities with much responsibility, to facilitate
in establishment of peaceful and pleasant electoral atmosphere and
to refrain from making premature conclusions regarding the legitimacy
and democracy of the elections.
~U The Mission believes that even at the pre-election stage, all
participants in the electoral process must declare their willingness to
conduct honest and transparent campaign. They must also acknowledge the
legitimacy of the electoral process and its results - whether or not
they will meet their expectations. This is the essence of democracy.
~U The Mission expresses their hope that the pre-election campaign
period, the Elections Day itself and the process of vote counting and
results tabulation will be carried out in Armenia in accordance with
the Electoral legislation, without escalation of the current tensions,
and that these Presidential Elections will meet the international
standards.
~U The mission hopes that the rest of the pre-election period,
the Election Day and the results tabulation will be carried out in
Armenia within the legal framework, without aggravation of the current
political situation, and that the Elections will meet international
standards.
~U The final evaluation and conclusions of the mission on the
democratic nature of the parliamentary elections will be made only
upon completion of the electoral process.
From: Baghdasarian