ArmInfo. Holding free and fair elections is a top priority for the Armenian authorities, Head of the Armenian Delegation to PACE, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hermine Naghdalyan said at PACE.
She noted that the new Electoral Code creates strong bases for holding fair elections. She added that the legitimacy of the April 2 parliamentary elections is more important for the Republican Party of Armenia than the outcome of the elections. "It is our obligation to hold democratic and transparent elections," she stressed.
Naghdalyan reminded her European colleagues of last April's aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh, as well as Azerbaijan's recent sabotage attack mounted on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. "Despite all this, Armenia remains committed to its stand to find a peaceful solution to the Karabakh problem," she said, noting that Azerbaijan's actions harm the regional security, but do not influence the Armenian authorities' desire to conduct large-scale reforms in the judiciary system and in the field of human rights.
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. Four international organizations - the Council of Europe, PACE, OSCE and CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly - have been invited to observe the parliamentary elections in Armenia.