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Osce Pa Observers Call Armenian Election Improved, But Lacking Competition
http://hetq.am/eng/news/23549/osce-pa-observers-call-armenian-election-improved-but-lacking-competition.html
12:44, February 19, 2013
Yerevan, 19 February 2013 - The 18 February Armenian presidential
election demonstrated improvements over previous presidential elections
but the limited field of candidates meant that the election was not
genuinely competitive, concluded observers from the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly in a statement released today.
Important democratic freedoms, including the right to campaign freely,
were generally respected during the campaign, observers said.
"This election showed improvement, but lacked genuine competition,"
announced Tonino Picula, Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
election observation mission. "We are pleased to note progress on
several aspects, but competition is critical if Armenia is going to
live up to the aspirations of its people for a vibrant and engaging
democracy."
The campaign was generally conducted in a peaceful manner and was
well-administered, according to the observers. Important measures
of transparency have been implemented, said the observers, who also
noted significant efforts to improve the voter registry. Nonetheless,
the mission noted, particularly at local levels, an unclear distinction
between the campaign activities of the incumbent and state structures.
These included misuse of administrative resources and pressure on
public employees to participate in the election and campaign events.
Media coverage enabled voters to inform themselves regarding the
campaign. However, the decision by several influential political
forces not to field candidates contributed to apathy and lack of
trust among voters, said the observers.
The voting process was well organized in most of the polling stations
visited, however the observers noted that the inking of passports
did not provide the intended safeguard against multiple voting,
as the ink could easily be wiped off.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe deployed a limited election observation mission
to Armenia following an invitation from the Armenia autho
http://hetq.am/eng/news/23549/osce-pa-observers-call-armenian-election-improved-but-lacking-competition.html
12:44, February 19, 2013
Yerevan, 19 February 2013 - The 18 February Armenian presidential
election demonstrated improvements over previous presidential elections
but the limited field of candidates meant that the election was not
genuinely competitive, concluded observers from the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly in a statement released today.
Important democratic freedoms, including the right to campaign freely,
were generally respected during the campaign, observers said.
"This election showed improvement, but lacked genuine competition,"
announced Tonino Picula, Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
election observation mission. "We are pleased to note progress on
several aspects, but competition is critical if Armenia is going to
live up to the aspirations of its people for a vibrant and engaging
democracy."
The campaign was generally conducted in a peaceful manner and was
well-administered, according to the observers. Important measures
of transparency have been implemented, said the observers, who also
noted significant efforts to improve the voter registry. Nonetheless,
the mission noted, particularly at local levels, an unclear distinction
between the campaign activities of the incumbent and state structures.
These included misuse of administrative resources and pressure on
public employees to participate in the election and campaign events.
Media coverage enabled voters to inform themselves regarding the
campaign. However, the decision by several influential political
forces not to field candidates contributed to apathy and lack of
trust among voters, said the observers.
The voting process was well organized in most of the polling stations
visited, however the observers noted that the inking of passports
did not provide the intended safeguard against multiple voting,
as the ink could easily be wiped off.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe deployed a limited election observation mission
to Armenia following an invitation from the Armenia autho