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Osce: Armenian Election More Democratic Than Former Polls

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  • Osce: Armenian Election More Democratic Than Former Polls

    OSCE: ARMENIAN ELECTION MORE DEMOCRATIC THAN FORMER POLLS

    Interfax, Russia
    Feb 19 2013

    Monday's presidential election in Armenia, won by incumbent Serzh
    Sargsyan, showed democratic progress but there were serious weak
    points as well, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
    Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
    (ODIHR/OSCE) said on Tuesday.

    "Candidate registration was inclusive, contestants had the chance
    to campaign freely and voters had the opportunity to express their
    choice. Media fulfilled their legal obligation to provide balanced
    coverage and all contestants made use of their free airtime," a press
    release from the ODIHR cited the international observation mission
    at the election as saying in a statement.

    However, there was criticism as well.

    "We have observed a calm election day, characterized by no major
    difficulties in electoral procedures, following a somewhat quiet,
    low-key election campaign lacking significant political debate and
    real competition," the release quoted Milan Cabrnoch, head of the
    European Parliament delegation, as saying. "This was mainly due to
    the decision by three main parties not to nominate candidates."

    At a news conference in Yerevan on Tuesday, Cabrnoch promised that the
    European Union would give Armenia any help it needs in its democratic
    development.

    The Armenian Central Election Commission claims that Sargsyan has
    won 58.64% of the vote at the election, and that his chief rival,
    Heritage opposition party leader and ex-Foreign Minister Raffi
    Ovannisian got 36.75%.

    as jv

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