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| February 1 -7 |
With less than two weeks remaining
before the February 19th presidential elections, candidates continued
feverish campaigning across the country, meeting with voters and presenting
their policies. The incumbent President Robert Kocharian, Stepan Demirchian
(People's Party), Artashes Geghamian (National Unity), Vazgen Manukian
(National Democratic Union) and Aram Karapetian (Constitutional Rights
Union) to date have been the most active campaigners.
Robert Kocharian's campaign has focused on the positive economic changes
of recent years, while pledging to work for more improvements, which
will create conditions for the repatriation of recent emigrants from
Armenia. Kocharian plans to hold a constitutional referendum later
this year that would strengthen parliamentary oversight of the government
and allow dual citizenship. He also promised to continue negotiations
for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Speaking on Armenia's Public Television Stepan Demirchian's campaign
manager, member of the National Assembly Grigor Harutiunian outlined
Demirchian's support for dual citizenship and his vision for a "multilateral"
foreign policy, which appears to be almost identical to the foreign
policy of the current administration.
Having adopted the Communist Party platform, Artashes Geghamian has
argued for further "integration" with Russia, including the adoption
of the Russian currency and trade regime, and joining the Russia-Belarus
Union. Geghamian repeated this position in a live debate with Kocharian's
election manager, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian, aired by Armenian
Public Television.
One of the leaders of the Armenian independence movement, Vazgen Manukian
continues his campaign despite low expectations of victory. This week,
his campaign stops included the town of Chambarak in Gegharkunik province,
where he was greeted by nearly 2,000 well-wishers. Manukian's popularity
in the area is largely due to his efforts as Defense Minister (1992-93)
to protect this and other border areas against Azerbaijani attacks.
Aram Karapetian, who has been based in Moscow for much of the last
decade and claims to be an advisor of Russian President Vladimir Putin,
made an unexpected appearance on the Armenian political scene in the
middle of last year. This week he confirmed reports that he was expelled
several years ago from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which
backs the incumbent. Karapetian is now highly critical of Kocharian's
policies and is running a fairly well-financed campaign.
Meanwhile, with most parliamentarians campaigning, the National Assembly
failed to achieve a quorum three days in a row, effectively canceling
its session this week. (Sources: Noyan Tapan 1-31, 2-3; Arminfo 2-1;
Azg 2-4; Yerkir 2-4) |
| February 1 -7 |
A poll conducted among Yerevan residents,
and cited by the pro-opposition daily Aravot, reported 29 percent
of the respondents (up 7 points from two weeks earlier) supporting
Kocharian, with Demirchian at 11 percent (up 2 points) and Geghamian
trailing further behind. Aravot and several other opposition dailies,
including Haykakan Zhamanak, Orran and Ayb-Fe have consistently backed
Demirchian over Geghamian, with the latter having no significant media
backing.
Nevertheless, most observers believe that Demirchian's campaign has
so far been more successful than Geghamian's.
Meanwhile, polling results published by the Globe News, an organization
reportedly run by Kocharian supporters, said that out of 2,500 people
questioned throughout Armenia last month, over 45 percent (including
40 percent in Yerevan) support Kocharian, up from 31 percent reported
by the same organization in December. The poll shows Geghamian and
Demirchian sharing about 9 percent each (13 and 12 percent, respectively,
in Yerevan), followed by Manukian and Karapetian trailing with 2 percent
each, and other candidates polling less that 1 percent each. Some
16 percent of the respondents said they were undecided. (Sources:
Noyan Tapan 12-16; Aravot 1-18, 2-1; Azg 1-28; Arminfo 2-3) |
| February 1 -7 |
While the incumbent president remains
a strong favorite to win the upcoming election, commentators disagree
on the likely margin of his victory. Aleksandr Iskandarian of the
Caucasus Media Institute, funded by the government of Switzerland,
this week outlined two likely scenarios. The first scenario envisions
consolidation of the opposition behind a single candidate and a narrow
victory for Kocharian, thereby weakening his government. Under a second
scenario, the opposition would fail to unite, leading to a Kocharian
victory by a wider margin.
In essence, these two scenarios resemble the 1996 and 1998 presidential
elections, respectively. In the first case, consolidation of most
of the opposition around Vazgen Manukian's candidacy resulted in a
narrow and contested victory by then incumbent Levon Ter-Petrossian,
who resigned a year and a half later. In 1998, the current incumbent
won a two-round victory by a more comfortable 18 percent margin.
The field of candidates challenging Kocharian narrowed to nine this
week, following the withdrawal of Vladimir Darbinian (Communist Party).
Candidates have until 8 AM on Februrary 9th to pull out of the race,
if they do not wish their names to be included on the ballot. Leading
opposition candidates met this week to discuss election cooperation,
but they again failed to agree on a joint opposition candidate. While
at least two other candidates, Garnik Margarian (Socialist Armenia)
and Aram Sargsian (Party of the Republic) are also expected to withdraw,
the top opposition leaders, including Demirchian, Geghamian and Manukian
indicated they would stay in the race.
Kocharian's showing in the second round of the 1998 elections was
particularly strong in Armenia's southern Ararat (77 percent), Sunik
(73) and Vayotsdzor (69) provinces. His opponent at the time, Armenia's
late Soviet-era leader Karen Demirchian did best in the northern Lori
(45 percent), Aragatsotn (45) and Shirak (44) provinces and provincial
capitals of Armavir, Dilijan and Gavar, which Demirchian won outright.
His son and successor, Stepan, hopes to keep that support base, while
also atracting former supporters of Kocharian and Manukian. The Kocharian
campaign, on the other hand, expects a better showing in the country's
north, having overseen a large-scale reconstruction effort in the
areas affected by the 1988 earthquake, and in the capital, where much
of the recent strong economic growth centers. (Sources: Central Election
Commission: 1998 election results; Noyan Tapan 1-27, 2-7; Aravot 1-29;
RFE/RL Armenia Report 1-30, 2-4; Arminfo 1-31; IWPR Caucasus Reporting
Service 2-6) |
| February 1 -7 |
Nearly 300 observers from the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), joined by groups from
the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and
numerous local monitors will judge the conduct of the upcoming Armenian
elections. The OSCE group led by an American Peter Eicher has already
arrived in Armenia and met with most of the presidential candidates.
Last year, Eicher led OSCE monitors to elections in Bosnia and Turkey.
U.S. Ambassador in Armenia John Ordway urged the Armenian government
this week to "take effective steps to ensure that the election campaign
proceeds within the framework established by the laws of Armenia."
Ordway said that a clean vote would help Armenia secure a place among
the world's democracies and will set an impressive example for other
neighboring states to follow. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian also
discussed the upcoming election with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of
State Richard Armitage and other officials during a visit to Washington
earlier this week. (Sources: Arminfo 2-5; Noyan Tapan 2-4, 5; RFE/RL
Armenia Report 1-23, 2-5) |
| February 1 -7 |
Election-related tension led to altercations
in Ararat province, where Kocharian supporters reportedly prevented
parliamentarian Haik Babukhanian, who is a campaign manager for Aram
Karapetian, from addressing local residents. Armenia's police officials
said they detained the suspected perpetrators the following day. Later
in the week Karapetian and another presidential candidate, former
Prime Minister Aram Sargsian, an Ararat native, held a rally in the
provincial center of Artashat, following which their supporters reportedly
ransacked Kocharian's local campaign offices. Both pro-presidential
and opposition politicians condemned the incidents. (Sources: Azg
1-25; Arminfo 2-3; Noyan Tapan 2-4, 5; Arminfo 2-7) |
February
3 - 4 |
After two failed attempts to convene
a quorum of deputies necessary to hold an official session of parliament,
Parliamentary Chairman Armen Khachatrian announces that parliament
will not reconvene until after the February 19th presidential election.
Although most of the opposition deputies attempted to reconvene the
parliament after the end of its one-month winter recess, nearly all
of deputies from the pro-government majority failed to return to parliament,
citing activities relating to the presidential election. Although
any direct involvement in the presidential election by ministers of
government officials is clearly prohibited by Armenian laws and parliamentary
ethics rules, the legality of involvement of deputies in presidential
campaigning is more ambiguous. (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology,
March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
February
4 - 5 |
Deputy Haik Babukhanian, a leading
member of the opposition Union for Constitutional Rights (SIM) party
and campaign manager for opposition presidential candidate Aram Karapetian,
is injured by a knife wielding attacker during a campaign rally in
the town of Artashat. According to witness reports, Babukhanian and
his driver were wounded in the attack after he fired a handgun, allegedly
to deter an approaching group of 30-40 men attempting to force him
from the rally. Union for Constitutional Rights Chairman Hrant Khachatrian
accuses Minister for Local Government Hovik Abrahamian, a native of
the town, of organizing a group of local residents to force Babukhanian
from the rally. In a statement issued following the incident, U.S.
diplomat Peter Eicher of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe’s (OSCE) team of election observers states that “there
must be no threats or violence in the course of democratic elections.”
(Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3)
|
February
4 - 5 |
Russian Industry and Science Minister
Ilya Klebanov meets with President Robert Kocharian, Defense Minister
Serge Sarkisian and other senior Armenian officials in Yerevan to
finalize negotiations over measures for the repayment of the nearly
$40 million Armenian debt to Russia for nuclear fuel. The negotiations
conclude with a new agreement on the transfer of financial control
and management of the Medzamor nuclear power plant to the Russian
Unified Energy Systems (EES) firm in return for the cancellation of
the Armenian debt. (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003,
Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 5 |
Deputy Police Chief General Hovannes
Varian announces that new measures will be imposed to increase security
at campaign rallies and other events following the stabbing of Haik
Babukhanian, the campaign manager for opposition presidential candidate
Aram Karapetian. Varian adds that the police have accepted the Interior
Ministry’s official report that found Babukhanian responsible
for the attack by “provoking the attack by discharging a firearm
into the air.” (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003,
Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 8 |
Former Prime Minister Aram Sarkisian,
the brother of the slain Defense Minister Vazgen Sarkisian, announces
his withdrawal from the February 19th presidential race and calls
on his supporters to back opposition People’s Party of Armenia
(HZhK) Chairman Stepan Demirchian. The withdrawal of Sarkisian, the
head of the opposition “Hanrapetutiun” (Republic) party,
follows Communist Party of Armenia Chairman Vladimir Darbinian’s
recent pullout from the campaign and leaves Demirchian, National Democratic
Union (NDU) Chairman Vazgen Manukian and Artashes Geghamian of the
National Unity Party as the leading opposition candidates challenging
incumbent President Kocharian. (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology,
March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 10 |
Former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovannisian
announces his support of People’s Party of Armenia leader Stepan
Demirchian and urges his supporters to back Demirchian’s attempt
to unseat incumbent President Kocharian. Hovannisian lauds Demirchian
as “a statesman” capable of building the “foundations
of a modern public order.” The U.S.-born and raised former foreign
minister was denied official registration as a presidential candidate
on the grounds that he fails to meet the ten-year citizenship requirement.
(Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3)
|
| February 10 |
Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian,
the campaign manager for incumbent President Kocharian’s reelection
bid, promises that the upcoming presidential election will be free,
fair and transparent, and will meet “the highest European standards.”
The defense minister also states that law enforcement agencies will
ensure “political stability” during the election. The election
is to utilize several thousand clear plastic ballot boxes donated
by Germany to minimize the practice of ballot-stuffing. Several international
delegations of election observers are also in the country to monitor
the election. (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol
XII No. 3) |
| February 10 |
A new study commissioned by the Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation Commission (TARC) and conducted by the New York-based
International center for Transitional Justice affirms that the killings
of 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 “constitute
the internationally accepted definition of genocide.” Following
the release of the study, members of the TARC announce plans to “meet
soon and resume their work for reconciliation.” The TARC was
formed in mid-2001 but was widely criticized due to its composition
of private, self-appointed Armenian members and Turkish members linked
to the Turkish government and military. It remains unclear what effect
the study’s affirmation of the Armenian Genocide will have on
the official Turkish position of denying the Genocide. (Sources: TransCaucasus:
A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 10 |
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Dzyunik
Aghajanian tells the Arminfo news agency that Yerevan supports the
complete and unconditional disarmament of Iraq and full implementation
of UN Security Council Resolution 1441. That resolution threatens
"serious consequences" if Baghdad fails to disarm. (Sources:
TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 13 |
A Yerevan court issues a ruling rejecting
an attempt by six opposition presidential candidates challenging the
eligibility for incumbent President Robert Kocharian to run for reelection.
The challenge centered on the contention that Kocharian, a former
president of Nagorno Karabagh, was a resident of Karabagh until March
1997 and, therefore, fails to meet the ten-year minimum requirement
of Armenian citizenship necessary to certify a presidential candidacy.
The court ruling held that a 1989 vote by the then Armenian Soviet
Socialist Republic Supreme Soviet that designated Nagorno Karabagh
as a constituent part of Armenia was valid, thereby inferring Armenian
citizenship on Kocharian. The president was also issued a police identification
document establishing his ten-year Armenian residency and citizenship.
(Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
February
13 -15 |
Officials of the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) report that their recent assessment of the Armenian economy
has supported a decision to release a $13 million fourth tranche of
the IMF’s $91 million Poverty Reduction and Growth facility Loan
package. The IMF specifically pointed to the 12.0 percent growth in
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a low annual inflation rate and some
reduction in the sizable fiscal and current account deficits. There
was a note of concern, however, with a call for the Armenian government
to “improve the transparency of the operations of state-owned
companies in the energy sector” with measures to ensure “control”
over their large debt and to “improve their efficiency and accountability.”
(Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3)
|
| February 7 -14 |
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said
this week that he anticipated a “serious shift” in the Karabakh peace
process following this year’s elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Oskanian told the Armenian Public Television that a future settlement
would be based on “documents” drawn up by Presidents Robert Kocharian
and Heydar Aliyev during a series of meetings in France and the United
States in 2001. Earlier reports suggested that these documents arranged
for an Armenian withdrawal from security zones outside Nagorno Karabakh
in exchange for Azerbaijan’s acquiescence to reunification of the
two Armenian republics. Aliyev has since refused to follow through
on these agreements.
During his televised appearance, Oskanian also noted that unlike in
the mid-1990s the international mediators no longer insist on preservation
of Azerbaijan’s Soviet-era borders as part of the settlement. Public
statements by French and Russian Presidents this week reflected this
position, as did earlier comments by the U.S. envoy to the talks.
The three countries have been lead mediators in the conflict since
1997.
While Aliyev and Kocharian have continued to meet regularly, it remains
uncertain whether the ageing Azerbaijani President and his son and
likely successor, Ilham, have the will and ability to carry out the
required concessions. Commenting on Armenia’s upcoming presidential
elections, Aliyev’s chief foreign policy aide Novruz Mammadov expressed
concern last week that Kocharian’s reelection might strengthen his
position. Although he refused to endorse any of Kocharian’s challengers,
Mammadov hinted that Azerbaijan would prefer a counterpart who is
weaker and more susceptible to political pressure.
In the past several years, Azerbaijan has repeatedly threatened to
unleash a new war in Karabakh. Most observers see such threats as
an attempt to gain leverage in the negotiations. In the absence of
capable armed forces of its own, Azerbaijan has relied on Turkey and
more recently, Pakistan for military support. Azerbaijani pundits
also hope that a potential future confrontation between the United
States and Iran would benefit its standing vis-à-vis Armenia. (Sources:
Ekho Moskvy 12-11; Ekho 1-28, 2-8; Noyan Tapan 2-10; Zerkalo 2-13) |
| February 7 -14 |
The Armenian government’s fiscal policy
this week received an endorsement from a key world financial body.
Following a two-week trip to Armenia, representatives of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) particularly noted the country’s strong economic
performance, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up 12.9 percent last
year, low inflation, a growth in foreign exchange reserves and narrowing
deficits. The IMF delegation’s statement, while noting continued difficulties
in the energy sector, also praised the higher level of tax collection
and the rapid clearance of domestic expenditure arrears.
The IMF evaluation is likely to pave the way for a new $13 million
low interest loan, which is part of the organization’s three-year
$91 million Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Armenia
has so far received three PRGF installments worth $46 million.
Last year Armenia’s economic growth was the strongest among the former
Soviet Republics. According to the Statistics Committee of the Commonwealth
of Independent States, the largely oil-driven economies of Azerbaijan
and Kazakhstan were second and third in terms of growth, expanding
by 10.6 and 9.5 percent, respectively. (Sources: Arminfo 2-7; Noyan
Tapan 2-13; RFE/RL Armenia Report 2-13) |
| February 7-14 |
Next Wednesday, February 19th, Armenia
will hold its fourth presidential election since independence in 1991.
Below is a compilation of basic facts about candidates and their supporters.
The candidates are listed in the alphabetical order:
Ruben Avagian, Chairman, United Armenians’ Party Born in 1943
in Krasnodar, Avagian is a graduate of Moscow’s Dzerzhinsky Academy
of State Security. Between 1965 and 2000, Avagian worked in the Soviet
and independent Armenia’s security and military agencies. Retiring
from the state service, Avagian established a private college which
he heads. In 2000 he also founded the United Armenians’ Party, which
made a modest showing in Armenia’s local self-government elections
last October.
Stepan Demirchian, Chairman, People’s Party (HZhK) Born in
1959 in Yerevan, Demirchian is a graduate of the Yerevan Polytechnic
Institute, where he earned a Candidate’s Degree (PhD) in technical
sciences. From 1988 until now he has been a director of the state-owned
Mars electronics plant in Yerevan. Following the assassination of
his father, Speaker of the National Assembly Karen Demirchian in 1999,
Stepan Demirchian succeeded him as HZhK Chairman. Demirchian’s presidential
bid is endorsed by the Party of the Republic (Aram Sargsian), Heritage
Organization (Raffi Hovannisian), National Democratic Party (Shavarsh
Kocharian), Bloc of National Democrats (Arshak Sadoyan), Democratic
Homeland Party (Petros Makeyan) and part of the Socialist Armenia
Union (Vardan Khachatrian, George Hakobian).
Artashes Geghamian, Chairman, National Unity Party (AMK) Born
in 1949 in Yerevan, Geghamian is a graduate of the State Management
Academy of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Geghamian was
the last Soviet-era mayor of Yerevan (1989-90). This is Geghamian’s
second run for the presidency. In 1998 he collected less than one
percent of the vote and subsequently endorsed Kocharian. During the
1999 parliamentary elections, Geghamian’s AMK in alliance with several
other parties came third with eight percent of the vote. The Communist
Party (Vladimir Darbinian), part of the Socialist Armenia Union (Ashot
Manucharian, Manuk Gasparian) and the Self-Determination Union (Paruir
Hairikian) have endorsed Geghamian’s presidential bid.
Aram Harutiunian, Chairman, National Accord Party Born in 1958
in Artashat, Harutiunian is a graduate of the Mathematics and Mechanics
Faculty of the Yerevan State University. From 1990 to 1999, Harutiunian
rose to become one of the senior members of the Self-Determination
Union (IM, led by Paruir Hairikian). After leaving IM, Harutiunian
established the National Accord Party in 2000.
Aram Karapetian, Director, Perspektiva Political Consulting
Service Born in 1964 in Yerevan, Karapetian is a graduate of the Moscow
Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics and the Institute of Social
and Political Research at the Russian Academy of Sciences, where he
earned a PhD in Political Science. In recent years, Karapetian worked
for the Russian State Duma. In 2002, he established the Perspektiva
Political Consulting Service and relocated to Armenia. The Constitutional
Rights Union (Hrant Khachatrian) has endorsed Karapetian’s candidacy.
Robert Kocharian, Incumbent President Born in 1954 in Stepanakert,
Kocharian is a graduate of the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute. From
1980 until 1988, Kocharian held several mid-level positions in the
Communist Party of Nagorno Karabakh. One of the leaders of the Karabakh
movement since the late 1980s, Kocharian was elected a member of the
Armenian Parliament in 1990. From 1992-1994, the Nagorno Karabakh
Parliament appointed Kocharian the Chairman of the State Defense Committee
and he was later elected President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(1994-97). From 1997 to 1998, Kocharian was Armenia’s Prime Minister.
In the 1998 elections, he was elected President of Armenia in the
second round with 59 percent of the vote. The Republican Party (Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Hrant Margarian), the Country of Law Party (Artur Baghdasarian) and
a dozen smaller parties and public organizations have endorsed Kocharian’s
re-election.
Vazgen Manukian, Chairman, National Democratic Union (AZhM)
Born in 1946 in Gyumri, Manukian has a Candidate’s Degree (PhD) in
physics and mathematics. One of the key leaders of the Armenian independence
movement, Manukian served as Prime Minister (1990-91) and Defense
Minister (1992-93). This is Manukian’s third run for the presidency:
in 1996 he came in second with 41 percent of the vote and in 1998
he was third with 12 percent. Manukian’s AZhM came in sixth in the
1999 parliamentary elections with five percent of the vote.
Garnik Margarian, Deputy Chairman, Homeland and Honor Party
Born in 1944, Margarian is a graduate of the Soviet Academy of Internal
Affairs. He resigned from Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs in
1993, after a long career in both Soviet and independent Armenia’s
internal security agencies. While Margarian chose to remain in the
race, he has publicly endorsed Geghamian.
Aram Sargsian, Chairman, Democratic Party Born in 1949 in Yerevan,
Sargsian is a graduate of the Yerevan Institute of Foreign Languages.
From 1970 until 1990, Sargsian was a correspondent for several leading
Yerevan and Moscow newspapers. In 1991, he was briefly the head of
Armenia’s Communist Party. Later that year he established the Democratic
Party. This is Sargsian’s second run for the presidency. In 1998 he
collected less than one percent of the vote, and subsequently endorsed
Kocharian. From 1998 to 1999, Sargsian was a foreign policy aide to
Kocharian. While Sargsian chose to remain in the race, he has publicly
endorsed Demirchian.
Armenian citizens in the United States will be able to vote at four
locations: the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC (2225 R Street,
NW), the Armenian Mission to the United Nations in New York City (119
East 36 Street), the Armenian Consulate in Beverly Hills, CA (50 North
La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 210) and at the Armenian Society of Los
Angeles in Glendale, CA (221 South Brand Blvd.). Voters can obtain
registration forms at www.armeniaemb.org or by calling 212-686-9079
in New York, 202-319-1976/2983 in Washington or 310-657-6102 in Los
Angeles. (Sources: Embassy of Armenia Press Release 1-14; The Caucasus
Media Institute 2003 Armenia Presidential Elections Guide; Reports
by Arminfo and Noyan Tapan news agencies) |
February
14 - 17 |
Speaking to supporters in a campaign
rally, President Robert Kocharian promises that the election will
be “free and fair” and promises continued economic growth
and political stability if reelected. Several election monitoring
groups reveal that they have found a widespread pattern of illegal
and inappropriate use of state resources by the Kocharian campaign,
citing political campaigning by several government ministers in state
facilities and charging intimidation and pressure by government officials
against subordinates. The improper use of state media and its generally
slanted coverage of the campaign, as well as several allegations of
the use of state funds to buy votes, also taint the Kocharian reelection
effort. (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII
No. 3)
|
| February 19 |
Although securing a substantial lead
over his four opponents, incumbent President Robert Kocharian garners
only 49.8 percent of the votes in the presidential election, narrowly
falling short of the required fifty percent plus one votes needed
to avoid a runoff election. People’s party of Armenia candidate
Stepan Demirchian comes in second with 28.3 percent of the votes,
followed by Artashes Geghamian of the National Unity Party with 17
percent. Voter turnout among the country’s 2.3 million-electorate
is reportedly 61.9 percent, according to figures released by the Central
Election Commission. (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March
2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
February
19 - 20 |
By late afternoon on election day,
the four opposition candidates issue a joint statement denouncing
the election for “massive irregularities and violence” charging
the authorities of engaging in widespread ballot stuffing to ensure
President Kocharian’s reelection. The charges of ballot stuffing
are supported by similar reports from independent and foreign observers
and journalists. The election is further marred by thousands of cases
of voters being omitted from official voter registers and forced to
apply to local courts for emergency voting authorization, with the
Central Election Commission admitting that it was ordered by these
courts to reinstate over 7000 eligible voters found to be improperly
removed from the lists. Thousands of supporters of opposition People’s
Party candidate Stepan Demirchian gather in front of the offices of
the Central Election Commission and begin demonstrations protesting
the results. Three other opposition candidates, Vazgen Manukian, United
Armenia Party leader Ruben Avagian, and Armen Karapetian, announce
their support for Demirchian. The third place finisher, National Unity
Party leader Artashes Geghamian, refuses to endorse Demirchian but
supports calls for an annulment of the first round election. (Sources:
TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
February
20 - 21 |
Election monitors from the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticize the presidential
election, citing several cases of blatant ballot stuffing and other
“serious irregularities,” as well as a “striking disparity”
between voter turnout and official results at many polling stations.
The OSCE concludes that although the overall vote was generally “well
conducted,” the election “fell short of international standards
in several key respects.” (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology,
March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 14 -21 |
Incumbent President Robert Kocharian
and People's Party Chairman Stepan Demirchian will participate in
round two of the Armenian presidential elections to be held on March
5. The nine-member Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that
the second round was required under the Constitution, because none
of the nine candidates surmounted the 50 percent plus one threshhold
in the February 19 poll. The CEC's preliminary protocol reported the
following results as of February 20:
Candidate (Affiliation) Votes received As percent of total votes cast
Robert Kocharian (Incumbent President) 707,155 49.8%
Stepan Demirchian (People's Party) 400,846 28.3%
Artashes Geghamian (National Unity Party) 247,360 17.4%
Aram Karapetian (Constitutional Rights Union) 41,683 2.9%
Vazgen Manukian (National Democratic Union) 12,988 0.9%
Ruben Avagian (United Armenians' Party) 5,037 0.4%
Aram Sargsian (Democratic Party) 1,633 0.1%
Aram Harutiunian (National Accord Party) 1,218 0.1%
Garnik Margarian (Socialist Armenia Union) 855 0.1%
Total votes cast 1,418,775 100%
Invalidated / Against all votes 45,318*
Total turnout: 1,464,093
*Note that in accordance with Armenia's election law the "invalidated"
and "against all" votes are registered as part of the total turnout,
but are not considered when percentages are calculated.
Some 62 percent of Armenia's 2,295,474 eligible citizens braved wintry
weather to cast their ballots in the fourth presidential election
held since Armenia's independence. The turnout was slightly higher
than the average 60 percent registered in September 1996 and March
1998 presidential elections. Residents of Armenia's southern-most
Syunik province were reportedly the most active, registering a 72
percent turnout. They were followed by residents of Ararat (69 percent),
Tavush (68), Armavir (68), Vayotsdzor (66), Gegharkunik (65), Kotayk
(62), Aragatsotn (61), Lori (60), Yerevan (58) and Shirak (54) provinces.
Kocharian and Demirchian emerged as frontrunners in the race a few
hours after polls closed at 8 PM local time. Some of the earliest
figures came from five rural communities near the town of Talin in
Aragatsotn province. In the area, which the Aravot daily newspaper
last week described as a pro-Demirchian stronghold, Kocharian was
polling at 46 and Demirchian at 34 percent. Kocharian's rating rose
as results began to pour in from Syunik and Shirak provinces, where
the incumbent's lead fluctuated at over 60 percent. The Demirchian
campaign, meanwhile, reported their candidate pulling ahead in the
Tavush province. Early results from several Yerevan communities showed
Kocharian ahead, but below 50 percent, with both Demirchian and Geghamian
sharing significant support.
As in the 1998 elections, Kocharian's performance was strong in Armenia's
southern provinces. He also made an improved showing in the northern
and north-western areas of the country damaged during the 1988 earthquake,
where reconstruction has sped up in recent years. Election results
also showed Demirchian doing particularly well in the towns and villages
where his late father, former Soviet Armenian leader Karen Demirchian,
was successful in the 1998 elections. This performance is thought
to reflect Demirchian's People's Party strong organization in these
communities. While his overall showing was quite strong, Geghamian
failed to emerge as the leading opposition candidate. Meanwhile, Karapetian,
who just returned to Armenia from Russia last year, emerged as an
entirely new force in Armenian politics. But election results showed
a major drop in Manukian's popularity. In the past, he led the Armenian
independence movement and, later, the political opposition.
By 6 AM local time on Februrary 20, the CEC publicized preliminary
results based on over a fifth of votes tabulated, giving Kocharian
48 percent, Demirchian 31 percent and Geghamian about 20 percent.
Later in the day, as tabulation of votes continued, Kocharian appeared
to pull away from his challengers, polling at over 50 percent. However,
the incumbent President was unable to secure a first round victory,
falling short by about 2,000 votes and forcing a run-off election.
The head of the Kocharian campaign, Serge Sargsian told a press conference
shortly after the run-off announcement that judging by the first round
results, Kocharian was well-placed to score a resolute victory in
the second round. However, the Kocharian campaign chief admitted,
that they had underestimated the strength of the presidential challengers.
Sargsian pledged to revise some elements of the campaign strategy.
He did not exclude that Kocharian may seek the endorsement of some
of the former presidential candidates.
Four of these candidates Aram Karapetian, Vazgen Manukian, Ruben Avagian
and Aram Sargsian, as well as Armenia's Communist Party, have already
indicated their support for Demirchian in the second round set for
March 5. Artashes Geghamian, who could potentially provide more significant
backing, promised to make a decision before the run-off.
Meanwhile, some Geghamian supporters, including veteran politician
Paruir Hairikian, alleging that their candidate performed significantly
better than was officially reported, called for the first round to
be annuled and new elections held. Speaking at a rally of thousands
of Demirchian supporters in Yerevan today, Demirchian backers demanded
that their candidate be recognized as the election winner. According
to news agency reports, the most radical of them, including former
Prime Minister Aram Sargsian, threatened to use force against the
incumbent President unless he concedes his defeat "in 48 hours." However,
Demirchian himself struck a more cautious note urging his supporters
"to refrain from provocations." In an earlier interview he sounded
optimistic about his chances in the second round.
Opposition reaction to the March 1998 elections was similar, but the
main challenger at the time Stepan Demirchian's father, late Karen
Demirchian eventually decided not to officially challenge the election
results. Following the 1998 election's first round, Kocharian led
with 39 percent, followed by Demirchian with 31 percent, Manukian
with 12 percent, late Communist Party leader Sergei Badalian with
11 percent and Hairikian with 5 percent. Kocharian won in the second
round by a 59 to 41 percent margin. (Sources: Central Election Commission
1998 elections CD-ROM and on the web at http://2003.elections.am;
International Foundation for Election Systems http://www.ifes.am;
Aravot 2-15, 21; Arminfo 2-19, 20, 21; Noyan Tapan 2-19, 20, 21; Mediamaks
2-20) |
| February 14 - 21 |
International monitors criticized
the election conduct as falling "short of international standards
in several key respects." A statement prepared prior to the run-off
announcement said that irregularities marred an otherwise "generally
calm and well-administered" presidential election. American Peter
Eicher and British Lord Russel-Johnston co-led the joint observer
mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE),
which fielded some 200 monitors throughout the country.
Speaking at a press conference Thursday night, Eicher and Russell-Johnston
cited in particular several incidents of pressure on opposition campaigners
prior to the vote and unequal access to public resources, including
public TV. On voting day, the OSCE-PACE observers registered incidents
of ballot box-stuffing and intimidation attempts at about 10 percent
of the precincts they visited. During the vote count, which they described
as "generally transparent," the mission observed irregularities at
about 20 percent of the polls.
Despite the shortcomings, the observers said they were "pleased to
see an active and vigorous campaign" and the participation of nine
candidates, which "provided voters with a genuine choice." They also
noted tangible improvements in the voter lists, although they still
remain problematic. Over 10,000 voters turned to the courts on the
election day in order to be reinstated on the voter lists, and a majority
of them later returned to vote. (Source: OSCE-PACE Statement of Preliminary
Findings and Conclusions 2-19; Press Release 2-20) |
February
21 - 22 |
As more than 25,000 demonstrators
protest the results of the presidential election and support opposition
candidate Stepan Demirchian, police units launch mass arrests of nearly
one hundred opposition activists and supporters, charging them with
“hooliganism” and participating in unsanctioned public rallies.
The detainees are then quickly sentenced to brief prison terms after
being speedily convicted in closed, secret trials. Those sentenced
include many opposition election observers and even drivers who had
agreed to transport opposition supporters into Yerevan for a public
rally planned for the next day. Yerevan Mayor Robert Nazarian issues
a warning that since the opposition demonstrators lack official permission
for the planned public rally, the police have been ordered to arrest
all demonstrators. Critics charge that the police actions and brief
prison sentences are designed to prevent the opposition from full
participating in the runoff election now set for March 5th with President
Kocharian to face Stepan Demirchian. (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology,
March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 22 |
Tension is heightened after President
Kocharian issues a televised address warning that the authorities
will respond to any attempts to “violate public order” in
“the severest and most serious manner.” This is then followed
by an official statement by the Defense Ministry demanding that the
opposition immediately desist from any further actions that “affect
the political balance and threaten the constitutional order and security”
of the country, warning that the army will not be passive in the face
of actions that “endanger national security.” (Sources:
TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
February
23 - 24 |
Defying the warnings issued by the
authorities the previous day, between 30-40,000 of Demirchian supporters
stage a march in Yerevan protesting the election results and demanding
the release of all opposition supporters recently arrested. Dozens
of demonstrators, including a woman and a 14-year old boy, are then
arrested by police, with most receiving immediate sentences of fifteen
days in jail for “attending an illegal gathering” and “hooliganism.
(Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3)
|
| February 26 |
In a statement issued from its Strasbourg
headquarters, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) warns against any repetition in voting irregularities that
marred the first round of presidential elections “if Armenia
wants to live up to its democratic obligations as a member of the
Council of Europe.” The statement adds that the Council of Europe
expects “a free and fair outcome of the presidential election,
one which allows for the results to be accepted by all those concerned,
thus helping to consolidate democratic stability in the country.”
(Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 26 |
President Kocharian promises to implement
stricter measures to ensure free and fair elections for the March
5th second round, adding that he predicts he will win. The president
also explains that the voting irregularities were also committed on
behalf of the opposition candidates and states that much of the criticism
of the first round are gross exaggerations influenced by the opposition.
Justifying the arrest of roughly 100 opposition supporters for “illegal
activities,” the president also criticizes the opposition for
“destabilizing” the country. The same day, police units
in Yerevan halt a planned opposition march by deploying riot police
with water cannon and erecting barbed wire barricades along the streets
surrounding the parliament and presidential palace. With no reports
of arrests or violence, the nearly 10,000 demonstrators disperse after
gathering for thirty minutes. (Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology,
March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 27 |
With the total number of detainees
now surpassing 155, police arrest twenty members of opposition People's
Party of Armenia (HZhK) Chairman Stepan Demirchian’s campaign
staff. The wives of two Demirchian campaign activists who were taken
into custody in the town of Armavir on 22 February have been unable
to establish the whereabouts of their spouses and other HZhK officials
have reportedly gone into hiding to avoid arrest. (Sources: TransCaucasus:
A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3) |
| February 27 |
Artashes Geghamian, who placed third
in the 19 February ballot after incumbent President Robert Kocharian
and Demirchian, appeals to the Constitutional Court to annul the 19
February vote on the grounds that the results “were subject to
widespread falsification” and to schedule new elections. According
to Armenian law, the Constitutional Court must issue a ruling within
one month. Geghamian aide Hmayak Hovannisian also states that the
defeated candidate would “under no circumstances” back Demirchian
in the 5 March runoff, adding that supporting Demirchian would be
tantamount to “a complicity in election-related crimes.”
(Sources: TransCaucasus: A Chronology, March 2003, Vol XII No. 3)
|
| February 21 - 28 |
The Armenian Central Election Commission
(CEC) this week published the final results from the first round of
the Presidential elections held on February 19. The CEC delayed the
publication following several opposition lawsuits and a recount in
a number of precincts. The final CEC figures give the incumbent President
Robert Kocharian 49.5 percent of the vote. Stepan Demirchian (People’s
Party) follows with 28.2 percent, Artashes Geghamian (National Unity
Party) with 17.7 percent, Aram Karapetian (Constitutional Rights Union)
with around 3 percent, Vazgen Manukian (National Democratic Union)
– 0.9 percent, Ruben Avagian (United Armenians’ Party) – 0.4 percent,
Aram Sargsian (Democratic Party) – 0.2 percent, Aram Harutiunian (National
Accord Party) and Garnik Margarian (Socialist Armenia Union) with
around 0.1 percent each. The following is a distribution of votes
in percentages for the three leading contenders:
Province (votes cast for all candidates): Kocharian Demirchian Geghamian
Yerevan (420,274) 39.7 32.2 22.4
Aragatsotn (58,152) 37.3 35.9 20.9
Ararat (124,111) 51.6 29.6 14.6
Armavir (138,187) 52.3 19.4 24.6
Gegharkunik (111,289) 44.9 31.1 19.4
Lori (139,605) 58.0 24.9 12.4
Kotayk (130,130) 54.1 28.8 13.9
Shirak (110,763) 56.7 21.0 17.9
Syunik (91,065) 68.1 21.9 5.3
Vayots Dzor (24,123) 53.2 27.1 15.4
Tavush (60,614) 54.0 33.6 9.5
Abroad (8,044) 51.5 36.6 9.2
Total (1,416,357) 49.5 28.2 17.7
The final results showed a tight race throughout Yerevan, with Demirchian
ahead in Shengavit and Malatia-Sebastia neighborhoods. In the capital,
Kocharian was able to surmount the 50 percent threshold only in one
of the Central electoral districts. In the rural areas there were
more block votes, with entire villages voting for a single candidate.
Thus, all 518 voters in Zorakan village near Alaverdi in Lori province
backed Kocharian, while 732 out of 960 voters in adjacent Voskepar
and Baghanis villages in Tavush province voted for Demirchian. Demirchian
also scored clear victories in the towns of Talin in Aragatsotn, Meghri
in Syunik, Noyemberian in Tavush and a number of villages throughout
the country. Geghamian did best in Armavir province, the town of Gavar
in Gegharkunik and parts of Aragatsotn. Kocharian’s highest scores
were in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Echmiadzin, Masis, Abovian, Kapan and Goris.
(Source: Central Election Commission Web site http://2003.elections.am
Noyan Tapan 2-25) |
| February 21 - 28 |
Supporters of Stepan Demirchian, the
strongest opposition candidate who will face the incumbent in the
March 5 run-off, held mass demonstrations in Yerevan on February 21,
23 and 26, protesting what they claim is a widespread election fraud
and in several instances attacking Kocharian campaign offices and
businesses displaying pro-Kocharian posters. According to the Armenian
Justice Ministry, 86 individuals received 15-day jail sentences and
another 69 were fined for “violating public order” and “hooliganism”
during pro-Demirchian rallies.
Following their Wednesday rally, political parties supporting Demirchian
issued a statement demanding an immediate release of all detainees.
The statement is signed by Demirchian himself, as well as ex-PM Aram
Sargsian (Party of the Republic), Sanatruk Sahakian (Communist Party),
Vazgen Manukian (National Democratic Union), former presidential candidates
Aram Karapetian, Garnik Margarian and nine other inidviduals representing
smaller parties and groups. They also demanded that Kocharian fire
his election team, accusing them of election fraud, in particular
Defense Minister Serge Sargsian, Police Chief Hayk Harutiunian, Transport
and Communications Minister Andranik Manukian, Territorial Administration
Minister Hovanes Abrahamian and head of the Public TV and Radio board
Aleksan Harutiunian. The opposition also demanded the resignation
and prosecution of the CEC Chairman Artak Sahradian, as well as judges
who ruled to sentence opposition supporters to jail terms. In conclusion
the statement demands that Kocharian condemn election violations.
Demirchian supporters said they would resume rallies in Yerevan and
several towns across the country this weekend.
Meanwhile, incumbent President Kocharian held a press conference this
week accusing the opposition of whipping up tension and undermining
the country’s stability. He said that the opposition was violating
the election law by intimidating election officials, and that its
claims of election fraud were exaggerated. Kocharian supporters have
said they will hold a public rally of their own on March 1. (Sources:
ArmeniaNow.com 2-26, 27; Arminfo 2-26, 28; Noyan Tapan 2-26; RFE/RL
Armenia Report 2-26, 27) |
| February 21 - 28 |
The Armenian Public Television has
been advertising a proposed television debate between Robert Kocharian
and Stepan Demirchian, set for next Monday, March 3, two days before
the run-off between the two presidential candidates. Kocharian last
week renewed his offer to hold the debate on any of the country’s
television channels. Demirchian at first agreed to hold a debate,
but more recently conditioned it on release of his supporters and
punishment of several officials campaigning for Kocharian. Demirchian
has so far refused to give televised interviews. His campaign chief
Grigor Harutiunian and other supporters have spoken in his place.
The Public TV and half a dozen major private channels are widely perceived
as biased in Kocharian’s favor. The debate is expected to cover major
domestic and foreign policy challenges facing the country. (Source:
Arminfo 2-22, 23, 24, 26) |
| February 21 - 28 |
The National Unity Party’s Artashes
Geghamian who came in third in the February 19th poll has appealed
to Armenia’s Constitutional Court to invalidate its results. Geghamian
claims that the vote was rigged so as to keep him out of the second
round. He has also said that he would not endorse Stepan Demirchian,
another opposition candidate who advanced to the second round. Some
of the main Geghamian backers, including the Communist Party, the
Socialist Armenia and Self-Determination Unions appeared split on
whether to endorse one of the run-off candidates or to stick with
the Geghamian line. (Sources: Arminfo 2-24, 28; Noyan Tapan 2-24) |
| February 21 - 28 |
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev
this week made what appeared to be a hastily prepared visit to Washington,
where he met with President George W. Bush and other senior officials.
According to reports in the Azeri press, planning for the visit began
just three days before Aliyev’s arrival on February 23. They suggested
several possible reasons for the visit and its urgency, including
Aliyev’s health, U.S. effort to secure international support for its
Iraq policy, elections in Armenia, and problems related to financing
of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. Aliyev, who will turn 80 in two months,
had previously undergone medical treatment in the U.S. and is expected
to do so again during this trip. While in Washington, Aliyev also
visited with Vice President Richard Cheney, Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Armitage and gave a public talk organized by the Azeri and
Turkish lobby groups.
Aliyev’s visit comes amid a looming confrontation in Iraq. By courting
Aliyev at this time, Washington would clearly not mind an additional
endorsement from a predominantly Muslim country. But more importantly,
Aliyev may be expected to weigh in with the Turkish government, which
has repeatedly delayed a decision on U.S. military deployment in Turkey,
while asking for billions of dollars in compensation. Azerbaijan has
so far aligned itself with Ankara. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat
Guliyev, while expressing support for U.S. policy in general, urged
Iraq to work with United Nations inspectors to disarm. Prior to departing
for Washington, Aliyev said that the U.S. has not so far asked Azerbaijan
for assistance on Iraq.
Aliyev’s visit was first announced late on February 19th, the day
of the first round of the Armenian presidential elections. As in the
past, during his Washington meetings, Aliyev expressed his unhappiness
with the efforts of the international mediators to settle the Karabakh
conflict. Speaking with Azeri journalists this week, Assistant Secretary
of State Elizabeth Jones said that the U.S. continues to insist on
a Karabakh settlement within the framework of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and through talks between
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. Jones also stressed stability
as a paramount U.S. goal in the Caucasus region.
Meeting with U.S. leaders, Aliyev was reportedly seeking their renewed
support to obtain public funding for the planned Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
(BTC) oil pipeline. Following several delays, the BTC is planning
to begin construction with its own funds later this year. Meanwhile,
the Azeri state oil company reported that ChevronTexaco, one of the
U.S. oil majors involved in Azerbaijan, will be pulling out of the
Apsheron offshore project, having failed to find sufficient oil and
gas reserves. Aliyev had made a public claim earlier that the Apsheron
field held at least 1 trillion cubic meters of gas. In the last several
years, eleven international consortia abandoned their projects in
Azerbaijan offshore after sinking tens of millions of dollars into
drilling holes that came up dry. (Sources: Ekho 2-8, 19, 27, 28; 525-ci
Gazet 2-11; Bakinsky Rabochii 2-27; Reuters 2-27; Arminfo 2-28) |
| February 28 |
The Central Election Commission (CEC) reported Thursday that incumbent President Robert Kocharian had won a landslide run-off victory against his challenger Stepan Demirchian. Preliminary figures released by the CEC gave Kocharian over one million votes or 67.5 percent. Demirchian trailed with about half a million votes or 32.5 percent. Demirchian immediately challenged the results and international observers said the vote was marred by serious irregularities. The run-off took place two weeks after the first round of voting, in which Kocharian collected 49.5 percent and Demirchian 28.2 percent. Artashes Geghamian who was third with 17.7 percent challenged the first round results and refused to endorse either Kocharian or Demirchian. The CEC said that over 65 percent of all voters, slightly more than in the first round, participated in the run-off voting.
Compared to the first round, CEC figures showed Kocharian making a net gain of over 300,000 votes in the run-off, with Demirchian adding around 100,000 votes. Repeating the first round pattern, Kocharian received his highest percentage points in Syunik, Shirak, Lori and Kotayk provinces – 54 to 68 percent in the first round, 71 to 79 percent in the run-off. Similarly, Demirchian did best in the capital and Aragatsotn and Tavush provinces – 32 to 36 percent in the first round, 36 to 40 percent in the run-off. Demirchian had the strongest showing in Los Angeles, where he received 3,662 votes, with Kocharian getting only 285. Kocharian won in all other precincts abroad, including by 30 to 27 in Washington, 19 to 15 in New York City, and 4,998 to 706 in Moscow.
A statement issued on behalf of the parties and organizations supporting Demirchian said that they do not recognize the run-off results, accusing authorities of mass falsifications and attempting to “usurp power.” It also called on the CEC to invalidate the results and hold new elections. Demirchian rallied thousands of his supporters on Thursday and Friday and urged them “not to despair.” Demirchian said the opposition would continue to fight for its cause “only within the constitutional framework.” Among the opposition-planned measures are continued street protests and an application to the Constitutional Court to dispute the election results. At a press conference today, Demirchian also announced his plans to contest the May 25 parliamentary elections. Demirchian’s political allies now hold about two dozen seats in the 131-member National Assembly.
Meanwhile, members of the Kocharian campaign acknowledged there were election violations, but said the opposition committed its share as well. Kocharian’s campaign manager Serge Sargsian claimed the opposition exaggerated the extent of those violations. A senior member of the pro-Kocharian Country of Law Party Mher Shahgeldian said that whatever violations took place could not impact the final results, considering Kocharian’s margin of victory. Kocharian supporters also said that the incumbent got a major boost from the live televised debate with Demirchian on Monday.
Eight out of nine CEC members signed the protocol announcing preliminary results. The signatories included representatives of the opposition Communist Party and National Democratic Union, the latter adding objections. The representative of Geghamian’s National Unity Party was the only CEC member who refused to sign. The final results are expected next Monday. (Sources: Armenia This Week 2-21, 28; Arminfo 3-6, 7; Mediamaks 3-6; Noyan Tapan 3-6, 7; RFE/RL Armenia Report 2-6)
|
| February 28 |
Monitors from two international organizations who observed the two presidential election rounds issued a statement saying that the electoral process fell short of international standards and both rounds were marred by serious irregularities. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) jointly fielded some 200 observers throughout the country. The American head of the observation mission Peter Eicher said that he was “disappointed” and “had hoped for better” handling of the election. The statement criticized both campaigns, noting numerous instances of ballot box stuffing and reports of intimidation. They also cited the government’s failure to prosecute election violations in the first round, “inflammatory” statements by some opposition leaders, detention of opposition activists between the two rounds and irregularities in the vote count. On the positive side, the statement pointed to the live television debate between Kocharian and Demirchian, the first such debate in the post-Soviet states, as well as the absence of serious instances of violence, and active public and civil society participation in the elections. Observers called on the government to take the steps necessary before the upcoming parliamentary elections “for Armenia to advance democratically.” (Source: OSCE-PACE Press Release and Statement
www.osce.org/odihr
3-6) |
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