G. Sahakyan: “The situation is stable”
During its two-day working visit to Armenia, the delegation of the PACE Bureau's pre-election monitoring mission on 12 April had a meeting with parliamentary factions at the National Assembly, reports the NA press service.
During the meeting with the "Country of Law" (OEK) faction, the head of the delegation, Baroness Emma Nickolson asked about the pre-electoral processes taking place in Armenia.
Attaching importance to safety and security during the elections, head of the OEK delegation Heghine Bisharyan mentioned that as a candidate running through the majoritarian electoral order, she would be consistent with holding transparent elections.
At the delegation head's request, Bisharyan touched upon the activities of the monitoring group established adjunct to the NA Chairman and mentioned that the group was ready to discuss all issues related to the elections and record all manifestations that are against the legislation.
The PACE monitoring mission delegates also had a meeting with deputies of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D). Head of the faction Vahan Hovhannisyan, as well as deputies Lilit Galstyan and Artsvik MInasyan expressed their concerns over the pre-electoral stage and the elections and said they had reservations for the conduct of free and fair elections.
In a meeting with the monitoring mission, Naira Zohrabyan and Vahe Enfiajyan of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) presented their activities in the pre-electoral stage and during the campaign. Zohrabyan informed that voters' lists were checked starting from the day of their release and that the observers would receive information after the work was done.
On the same day, the PACE Bureau's pre-election monitoring mission had a meeting with leader of the faction of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Galust Sahakyan, secretary Gagik Melikyan, members David Harutyunyan, Eduard Sharmazanov and Artak Zakaryan.
Touching upon the pre-electoral processes, head of the HHK faction Galust Sahakyan said the political situation was stable and there was more social activity ahead of the elections. The head of the faction assured that the Republican Party of Armenia is doing everything possible to hold free and fair elections.
Baroness Emma Nickolson asked about the verification of voters' lists. Head of the NA standing committee on state and legal affairs, head of the Armenian Delegation to the PACE David Harutyunyan underlined that everyone had access to the lists. He also touched upon the amendments to the Electoral Code, which have made the elections more transparent and have provided the opportunity to hold free and fair elections.
