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HEIDI TAGLIAVINI CONSIDERS SERZH SARGSYAN'S CAMPAIGN TO BE MOST VISIBLE
10:06, 7 February, 2013
Heidi Tagliavini considers Serzh Sargsyan's campaign to be most visible
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. "Armenpress" had a conversation with
the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission, Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini on the
presidential elections, launch of the election campaign and its
process, as well as the assassination attempt against Armenian
presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan.
- Election campaign is started at January 21. How would you evaluate
the pre-election situation in Armenia? Whether there are equal
conditions for all candidates to campaign?
The Electoral Code establishes a set of rules aimed at ensuring equal
opportunities for all candidates. State and local self-government
bodies are obliged to provide contestants with premises for campaign
events, under equal conditions and free of charge.
The official campaign period has thus far been characterized by
low-key activities. The campaign of incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan
is most visible. The overall campaign environment is partly influenced
by the decision of several parliamentary parties to not nominate
candidates.
- Armenian authorities repeatedly express willingness to hold
unprecedented presidential election. According to your monitoring,
till this point, do you see ground in Armenia for conduct of elections
in line with international standards?
Firstly, we will not speculate on how these elections will be or not
be. Our assessment with preliminary findings and conclusions will be
done only after election day on the press conference which you are
more than welcome to attend. More comprehensive assessment will be
presented in the final report that will be published some 8-weeks
after completion of the process.
Secondly, in our monitoring, we look at all aspects of the electoral
process and assess them. We are interested in the process, not in the
results of an election. We are not in the business of legitimizing
elections, or declaring them valid or invalid. It is our role to
observe and assess the election process in light of OSCE commitments,
international standards and national law. Nevertheless, it is up to
the relevant national actors to conduct elections accordingly.
- In your interim report you have mentioned RA new Electoral Code as a
solid base for conduct of democratic elections, although you have
pointed out some omissions as well. Despite the existing gaps, how do
you assess the legal framework in terms of the conduct of more
transparent elections?
As stated in our first interim report, the upcoming election is the
first presidential election that will be held under this Code that was
adopted in May 2011. The OSCE/ODIHR and the Council of Europe's
European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) have
assessed the Code as comprehensive and providing a sound basis for the
conduct of democratic elections.
At the same time, while the new Code addresses a number of previous
recommendations offered by the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission,
there are still areas where it could benefit from improvement. In this
respect, let me refer to the OSCE/ODIHR's Final report on the 2012
parliamentary elections that is available in both languages at
http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/88247.
- Does OSCE/ODIHR has enough resources for implementation of election
observation mission in Armenia?
All the activities of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (ODIHR) of OSCE, including all the observation missions, are
covered by the budget that is approved annually by the OSCE Permanent
Council. In 2013, alongside Armenia, there have been observation
missions deployed also to the Czech Republic and Monaco; and very
shortly there will be a mission deployed to Montenegro.
- How would you evaluate the case that happened with Paruyr Hayrikyan?
Is there a base to announce that this will undermine the natural
process of presidential elections?
Violence is never an option. Ambassador Janez LenarÄ~MiÄ~M, Director of
the OSCE/ODIHR issued a statement condemning the attack (for more
information regarding the statement see
http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/99037):
"This attack is deeply distressing in view of the electoral process
already underway, and I urge all stakeholders to refrain from any
actions that might further aggravate the situation," said LenarÄ~MiÄ~M.
"We also urge the relevant authorities to pursue a robust
investigation of this crime and prosecution of the perpetrators."
LenarÄ~MiÄ~M added that all concerned should ensure that the electoral
process remains peaceful.
Our Election Observation Mission is in contact with the state
authorities, as well as Mr Hayrikyan's campaign headquarters, and
continues to follow developments in the case.
Interview by Seda Manukyan
10:06, 7 February, 2013
Heidi Tagliavini considers Serzh Sargsyan's campaign to be most visible
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. "Armenpress" had a conversation with
the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission, Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini on the
presidential elections, launch of the election campaign and its
process, as well as the assassination attempt against Armenian
presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan.
- Election campaign is started at January 21. How would you evaluate
the pre-election situation in Armenia? Whether there are equal
conditions for all candidates to campaign?
The Electoral Code establishes a set of rules aimed at ensuring equal
opportunities for all candidates. State and local self-government
bodies are obliged to provide contestants with premises for campaign
events, under equal conditions and free of charge.
The official campaign period has thus far been characterized by
low-key activities. The campaign of incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan
is most visible. The overall campaign environment is partly influenced
by the decision of several parliamentary parties to not nominate
candidates.
- Armenian authorities repeatedly express willingness to hold
unprecedented presidential election. According to your monitoring,
till this point, do you see ground in Armenia for conduct of elections
in line with international standards?
Firstly, we will not speculate on how these elections will be or not
be. Our assessment with preliminary findings and conclusions will be
done only after election day on the press conference which you are
more than welcome to attend. More comprehensive assessment will be
presented in the final report that will be published some 8-weeks
after completion of the process.
Secondly, in our monitoring, we look at all aspects of the electoral
process and assess them. We are interested in the process, not in the
results of an election. We are not in the business of legitimizing
elections, or declaring them valid or invalid. It is our role to
observe and assess the election process in light of OSCE commitments,
international standards and national law. Nevertheless, it is up to
the relevant national actors to conduct elections accordingly.
- In your interim report you have mentioned RA new Electoral Code as a
solid base for conduct of democratic elections, although you have
pointed out some omissions as well. Despite the existing gaps, how do
you assess the legal framework in terms of the conduct of more
transparent elections?
As stated in our first interim report, the upcoming election is the
first presidential election that will be held under this Code that was
adopted in May 2011. The OSCE/ODIHR and the Council of Europe's
European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) have
assessed the Code as comprehensive and providing a sound basis for the
conduct of democratic elections.
At the same time, while the new Code addresses a number of previous
recommendations offered by the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission,
there are still areas where it could benefit from improvement. In this
respect, let me refer to the OSCE/ODIHR's Final report on the 2012
parliamentary elections that is available in both languages at
http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/88247.
- Does OSCE/ODIHR has enough resources for implementation of election
observation mission in Armenia?
All the activities of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (ODIHR) of OSCE, including all the observation missions, are
covered by the budget that is approved annually by the OSCE Permanent
Council. In 2013, alongside Armenia, there have been observation
missions deployed also to the Czech Republic and Monaco; and very
shortly there will be a mission deployed to Montenegro.
- How would you evaluate the case that happened with Paruyr Hayrikyan?
Is there a base to announce that this will undermine the natural
process of presidential elections?
Violence is never an option. Ambassador Janez LenarÄ~MiÄ~M, Director of
the OSCE/ODIHR issued a statement condemning the attack (for more
information regarding the statement see
http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/99037):
"This attack is deeply distressing in view of the electoral process
already underway, and I urge all stakeholders to refrain from any
actions that might further aggravate the situation," said LenarÄ~MiÄ~M.
"We also urge the relevant authorities to pursue a robust
investigation of this crime and prosecution of the perpetrators."
LenarÄ~MiÄ~M added that all concerned should ensure that the electoral
process remains peaceful.
Our Election Observation Mission is in contact with the state
authorities, as well as Mr Hayrikyan's campaign headquarters, and
continues to follow developments in the case.
Interview by Seda Manukyan