AMBASSADOR ORDWAY MEETS WITH TOP ARF REPRESENTATIVES
Support A1+!US Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway met with top ARF representatives January 24 at the Simon Vratsian Center to discuss the issues of ensuring free and fair presidential election due in February.
The ARF was represented by ARF Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian, ARF Armenia Supreme Body (SB) representative Armen Rustamian, SB member Gegham Manukian and ARF Bureau Political and Hay Dat Office Director Kiro Manukian.
The parties discussed the current pre-election situation as well as the undertakings aimed at ensuring the fairness of the election process. Ambassador Ordway briefed the ARF representatives on the objectives and suggestions of some international organizations that are to monitor the Armenian elections.
At Mr. Ordway's request Armen Rustamian explained the situation with the series of talks between the Armenian political parties aimed at ensuring transparent and fair elections, held in November-December of 2002, as well as the Memorandum that followed these talks.
The ARF representatives, presenting their views, underscored the importance of forming legitimate authorities that would secure stability in the country. They also briefed the ambassador on the undertakings by Robert Kocharian's campaign office.
Accompanying Ambassador Ordway were Paul Wickberg, Political and Economic Section Chief and Alla Bakunts, Political Analyst.
