Democratic procedures go on in Armenia and you'll have brilliant future: Riccardo Migliori
4 minute read
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Significant elections will be held throughout the entire republic on February 18. The "Armenpress" reporter had a conversation with the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Riccardo Migliori regarding the preparatory stage of elections, media reports, election campaign, and many other issues.
- Mr. Migliori, what is Your assessment of the preparatory stage of the Armenian presidential elections?
- We can honestly discuss this procedure, as we have had a number of meetings with the presidential candidates and representatives of the electoral commission. We shall be in the polling stations from the very night on Sunday and we shall try to give assessment of the distinct procedures at place. As I have mentioned, we have had meetings with the presidential candidates, even with the one, who is on hunger-strike now. We had a meeting with the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. Tomorrow we shall have a meeting with the President of Armenia. We also had a number of meetings with the NGOs. At this moment I would characterize the procedure as very transparent.
- What is Your assessment of the quality of mass media reports on the presidential candidates? Have equal conditions been created for all of them?
- I would like to tell you a very interesting story. On November 6 was in Baltimore for the observation of the presidential elections in the USA. The voters arrived in the electoral stations on November 6. When I showed them the list of the presidential candidates they were very surprised seeing that had been four names in the list, because they have heard only about two of them. This means that the media covered the electoral procedures in Armenia very well.
- What is Your assessment of the election campaign? Have You noticed a civilized struggle and clashes of the programs?
- We see a very good and active election campaign in Armenia. Unfortunately, as in each democratic country, unpleasant things also happen. Intense situations during the political procedures are normal even in my country. This is "the physiology of democracy". Notwithstanding, this is not a pathology or an error, this is natural. Some political parties complained on certain situations. Yet the gloomy weather will not result in a flood. I am confident that democratic procedures go on in this country and you will have a brilliant future.
- Are the present conditions enough to hold presidential elections in Armenia, which will comply with the international standards?
- We shall answer that question on Tuesday. We shall express our opinion during the press conference, which will be held at 11 AM. But I would like to lay a heavy emphasis on one thing from my experience. On the last day of the presidential elections the White House sent one million short messages saying: "It's of a certain importance to vote for the President." I am confident that President Sargsyan will not send one million messages to his electorate on Sunday. (THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)