Thursday, January 19 2017 12:13

ArmInfo. Four international organizations - the Council of Europe, PACE, OSCE and CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly - have been invited to observe the  parliamentary elections in Armenia scheduled for 2 April 2017, Arsen  Babayan, Head of the Information Department of the Armenian National  Assembly, has told ArmInfo's correspondent.    

To note, on January 16 OSCE/ODIHR made its recommendations regarding  the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia. In anticipation of  an invitation from the authorities of the Republic of Armenia to  observe the 2 April 2017 parliamentary elections, and in accordance  with its mandate, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and  Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) undertook a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM)  from 30 November to 2 December 2016. The purpose of the mission was  to assess the pre-election environment and the preparations for the  elections. 

"All OSCE/ODIHR NAM interlocutors underscored the need for a  large-scale OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission. While many  previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations have been addressed, concerns  were expressed about the effective implementation of the new  Electoral Code and the impartiality of the election administration,  including on election day. A number of aspects would merit specific  attention by an OSCE/ODIHR election observation activity, including  the conduct of the campaign and potential abuse of state resources,  media coverage, functioning of the new voter identification system  and web-cameras, access for citizen observers, publication and  handling of signed voter lists, and resolution of possible complaints  and appeals. Based on the findings of this report, the OSCE/ODIHR NAM  recommends the deployment of an Election Observation Mission for the  2 April parliamentary elections, contingent upon the receipt of an  official invitation from the Armenian authorities. In addition to a  core team of experts, the OSCE/ODIHR NAM recommends the secondment of  24 long-term observers from OSCE participating States to follow the  electoral process countrywide, and 250 short-term observers to follow  election day proceedings. In line with the OSCE/ODIHR's standard  methodology, the mission would include a media monitoring element,"  the OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report says.

To recall, the parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for  April 2. According to the Central Electoral Commission's decision,  the official election campaign in Armenia will kick off on March 5  and will be over on March 31. The voting will take place on April 2,  from 8 am till 8 pm. The preliminary results will be publicized on  April 3 before 8pm.