OSCE Won’t Send 2,000 Election Observers as Requested by Armenian National Congress

The EU and the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) have agreed on a joint program to support democratic 2012 parliamentary and 2013 presidential elections in Armenia. The project, worth 1.7 million euros, will be financed by the European Union and implemented by the OSCE office in Yerevan, according to a press statement.

At a press conference in Yerevan today, head of the EU delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea recalled that the strategy “more for more” was adopted at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw in Sept. 2011, and since fair and transparent elections are an important indicator for the EU and the OSCE, Hristea advised Armenia’s authorities to use the opportunity for transparent elections to receive “more.”

The head of the EU delegation to Armenia stressed that the 1.7 million euros will be spent on strengthening the technical and professional capacities of election commissions (including the Central Electoral Commission), the police force and police officers.

The other speaker at today’s press conference, deputy head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Carel Hofstra, noted that apart from the aforementioned objectives, the OSCE intends to monitor the press beginning on Feb. 1, examining how impartial local media is in its election campaign coverage.

Hofstra pointed to a change which, according to him, could have a positive impact on the elections: progress in reviewing the law on rallies and marches and its implementation.

The OSCE official found it hard to say how many people the OSCE observation mission would be comprised of, but he did note that the Armenian National Congress’ demand to send 2,000 observers won’t be met.