18 April 2009, 19:00
CE observers to monitor election of Yerevan Mayor
On May 4-5, a mission of observers of the Congress of the Council of Europe (CE) will come to Yerevan for observing local and territorial elections. The mission members will meet state officials and representatives of political forces who plan to take part in the elections of the Board of Elders of the Yerevan City Mayoralty.
The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) made a decision to invite ambassadors of the OSCE countries accredited in Armenia, head of the Yerevan OSCE office, special representative of Secretary General of the CE in Armenia, and the head of the Yerevan Branch of the International Federation of Election Systems (IFES) to observe the elections.
The Armenian CEC did not invite any observers of the OSCE/ODIHR to the elections, having mentioned that this organization is mainly observing presidential and parliamentary elections.
Representatives of the oppositional Armenian National Congress believe that in reality the authorities intentionally avoid any presence of OSCE/ODIHR observers, since they are highly experienced.
Author: Lylyt Ovanisyan Source: CK correspondent
