ODIHR deploys long-term observation mission to Armenia

YEREVAN, 19 March 2007 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 12 May parliamentary elections in Armenia.

This follows an invitation from the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

Thirteen experts will be based in Yerevan, and 29 long-term observers will be deployed around the country. The ODIHR will request that a further 300 short-term observers be provided by OSCE participating States to monitor the opening and closing of polling stations on election day, voting, the vote count, and the tabulation of results.

The mission will assess the parliamentary elections for their compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes, including commitments agreed to by all 56 OSCE participating States, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

"The recently amended election code of Armenia provides a sound framework for democratic elections, but the challenge for the authorities is its implementation in good faith, so that this and future elections are held in accordance with OSCE commitments," said Ambassador Boris Frlec, who heads the ODIHR mission.

The mission intends to join efforts with the short-term observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, who will be headed by Tone Tingsgaard, Vice-President of the OSCE PA. The mission will also co-operate with other parliamentary delegations from the Council of Europe and, possibly, the European Parliament.

The OSCE/ODIHR observation mission and the OSCE Office in Yerevan operate independently under separate mandates.