Epress.am News from Armenia
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) MP Naira Zohrabyan, in conversation with Epress.am on US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern’s latest video blog post, urged international agencies and election observation missions to be more vigilant in their missions because their presence and watchful eyes are very important in ensuring fair parliamentary elections.
“I don’t think that US Ambassador John Heffern said anything new — he simply issued a call to display political will in order to hold free and fair elections. That is, that which has always been said and that which each and every one of us and political parties have to pursue, so that we can have worthy elections. I didn’t see anything new in the ambassador’s remarks,” she said.
In Zohrabyan’s opinion, her party too has repeatedly said and continues to say to voters to definitely report any violations of rights at any stage and at any level to political parties.
“BHK, specifically, will be vigilant so that anyone’s violated electoral right is restored. Of course, in this regard, I consider very important the embassies of the international community, through their representatives, to be quite relentless in these elections, because we all understand the importance and significance of these elections for the prospects and development of the country,” she said.
Head of the Heritage Party’s parliamentary faction Stepan (Styopa) Safaryan is pleased by the fact that the international community, represented by ambassadors, is sending very serious signals to the ruling authorities, political parties and the public.
“In this case, the assessment given on the Hrazdan elections was noticeable and extremely felicitous, noting both the benefits and those significant gaps, so that it doesn’t cross the authorities’ mind that it’s possible to conduct such a thing as the Hrazdan elections and that it can be considered a step forward. Second, it’s extremely significant that the US Embassy likewise wants really to be informed of electoral fraud and this means that the public, and also political forces, desiring and fighting for free and fair elections in Armenia have an ally in this matter. The third observation I would make is that the ambassador is warning of the inadmissibility of handing out bribes beforehand, which these days is awash around the entire country. I think the embassy too hasn’t remained unaware of this news, and consequently, I consider that the precaution was right,” he said.
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) spokesperson, National Assembly vice chair Eduard Sharmazanov also welcomed Ambassador Heffern’s remarks.
“He is urging voters to alert [the authorities] of electoral violations. This proves that the US ambassador and the friend of Armenia’s country that he represents are interested in democratic processes in our country and have a stake in them just as the HHK does, so that we have fair and transparent elections,” he said.