Did observers follow the election with staring eyes?
"Yerevan municipal elections were largely conducted in compliance with European standards," says the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The observation mission today expressed its satisfaction with the electoral processes but their words aroused doubt among the reporters.
"We are upset that you don't believe us," head of the delegation Nigel Mermagen declared.
"There has been no election in Armenia before, during which so many cases of violence against reporters were recorded as was the case with May 31 mayoral election. Does it meet European standards, too?
"It is outside our competence. But we have reached such information and we will take it into account in our final report", said Nigel Mermagen. The observers noted that their mission is aimed at disclosing and recording election frauds and vote violations.
Reporter of "168 Zham" newspaper Armine Avetyan reminded Mr. Mermagen that she had reported them on election frauds and beatings the day before.
"You were listening to my story so indifferently that I became convinced that the election would be rigged," said Mrs. Avetyan.
Note that yesterday while the observers were dining at the "Triumph" café ballots were being stuffed in boxes.
A1+ wondered how long the observers had been out of polling stations.
In reply, Mr. Mermagen said that the observers had visited all polling stations, followed the vote count with staring eyes and returned to the hotel after midnight.
Mr. Mermagen couldn't remember how many polling stations they had visited. He also noted that the observation delegation had arrived in Armenia on May 27 and they had been unable to follow TV coverage of electoral processes.
Mr. Mermagen refrained to mention any shortcomings during the vote. The final report will be presented at the PACE autumn session. "We have to make a thorough report where we will present the details", said the head of the CoE delegation.
Asked how they can assess the election outcome as positive if they still have to make a final report, Mr. Mermagen said: "I am sorry that you don't believe us."
