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Heidi Tagliavini considers Serzh Sargsyan’s campaign to be most visible
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. "Armenpress" had a conversation with the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission, Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini on the presidential elections, launch of the election campaign and its process, as well as the assassination attempt against Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan.
– Election campaign is started at January 21. How would you evaluate the pre-election situation in Armenia? Whether there are equal conditions for all candidates to campaign?
The Electoral Code establishes a set of rules aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates. State and local self-government bodies are obliged to provide contestants with premises for campaign events, under equal conditions and free of charge.
The official campaign period has thus far been characterized by low-key activities. The campaign of incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan is most visible. The overall campaign environment is partly influenced by the decision of several parliamentary parties to not nominate candidates.
– Armenian authorities repeatedly express willingness to hold unprecedented presidential election. According to your monitoring, till this point, do you see ground in Armenia for conduct of elections in line with international standards?
Firstly, we will not speculate on how these elections will be or not be. Our assessment with preliminary findings and conclusions will be done only after election day on the press conference which you are more than welcome to attend. More comprehensive assessment will be presented in the final report that will be published some 8-weeks after completion of the process.
Secondly, in our monitoring, we look at all aspects of the electoral process and assess them. We are interested in the process, not in the results of an election. We are not in the business of legitimizing elections, or declaring them valid or invalid. It is our role to observe and assess the election process in light of OSCE commitments, international standards and national law. Nevertheless, it is up to the relevant national actors to conduct elections accordingly.
– In your interim report you have mentioned RA new Electoral Code as a solid base for conduct of democratic elections, although you have pointed out some omissions as well. Despite the existing gaps, how do you assess the legal framework in terms of the conduct of more transparent elections?
As stated in our first interim report, the upcoming election is the first presidential election that will be held under this Code that was adopted in May 2011. The OSCE/ODIHR and the Council of Europe’s European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) have assessed the Code as comprehensive and providing a sound basis for the conduct of democratic elections.
At the same time, while the new Code addresses a number of previous recommendations offered by the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission, there are still areas where it could benefit from improvement. In this respect, let me refer to the OSCE/ODIHR’s Final report on the 2012 parliamentary elections that is available in both languages at http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/88247.
– Does OSCE/ODIHR has enough resources for implementation of election observation mission in Armenia?
All the activities of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of OSCE, including all the observation missions, are covered by the budget that is approved annually by the OSCE Permanent Council. In 2013, alongside Armenia, there have been observation missions deployed also to the Czech Republic and Monaco; and very shortly there will be a mission deployed to Montenegro.
– How would you evaluate the case that happened with Paruyr Hayrikyan? Is there a base to announce that this will undermine the natural process of presidential elections?
Violence is never an option. Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, Director of the OSCE/ODIHR issued a statement condemning the attack (for more information regarding the statement see http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/99037):
"This attack is deeply distressing in view of the electoral process already underway, and I urge all stakeholders to refrain from any actions that might further aggravate the situation," said Lenarčič. "We also urge the relevant authorities to pursue a robust investigation of this crime and prosecution of the perpetrators." Lenarčič added that all concerned should ensure that the electoral process remains peaceful.
Our Election Observation Mission is in contact with the state authorities, as well as Mr Hayrikyan's campaign headquarters, and continues to follow developments in the case.
Interview by Seda Manukyan