USA EXPECTING RA REGULAR ELECTIONS
Support A1+!«USA will put up money as to make Armenian 2007 Parliamentary and 2008 Presidential elections democratic, just and transparent», - U.S. Аmbassador Еxtraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia John Evans stated today addressing Rose-Roth NATO PA seminar.
In his speech he also mentioned constitutional amendments as democratic ones and conditioned them on further development of democracy in Armenia. Secretary of “National Unity” Aleksan Karapetyan asked John Evans whether it would be right to hold extraordinary Parliamentary and Presidential for creating an atmosphere of confidence and realizing the constitutional amendments properly. U.S. Ambassador answered, that they understand very well it’s not enough to have a good Constitution. “It’s necessary, but not enough. Laws must be observed without arbitrariness”, John Evans noted. As regards extraordinary elections Mr. Evans told that “there’s not much time left until regular elections, so these 15 months may be used for preparation to free and just elections.
Azeri delegate Leyla Alieva asked Evans if U.S. doesn’t keep ex-Soviet countries in kind of dependence by marking them out financial means, and doesn't that 'cause diffidence of those countries as it actually happened at Soviet times. Evans answered they don't have such an aim, they just think, if economic and social condition of people improves, there'll be fewer conflicts.
«By financial support we stimulate the formation of security and stability. Support from outside does not weaken the development of self-dependence». Mr. Evans also reminded, that U.S. alloted Armenia 1,6 mlrd dollars during these years.
Is democracy possible in a region, where there are troops which simply block some developments. Evans answered democracy and regional conflicts are interconnected. If democracy wins, the conflicts will become fewer.
