EAFJD Deploys an International Team of Observers to Nagorno Karabakh Parliamentary Elections

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs: ‘we recognize the role of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in deciding their future’

Brussels, May 3, 2015: Nagorno Karabakh Republic – Artsakh today is holding its 6th legislative elections, in which 7 parties will compete for 33 seats – 11 majoritarian and 22 proportional.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice & Democracy (EAFJD) has put together a ten-member team of professional Short Term Observers (STO) from Austria, Ireland, England, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Romania and the Netherlands, who have an extensive experience in monitoring elections all over the world. The Observers will follow the elections all day long, in all parts of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and present their report. The observers yesterday had a detailed meeting with the Central Electoral Committee. and were briefed about Nagorno Karabakh and the election process.

The EAFJD has also deployed journalists, politicians and activists, who along with the Observation mission will closely follow the elections. The aim of these two missions is to highlight the ongoing democratic process of Artsakh, which fought very hard to achieve independence – and now is seeking international recognition.

Kaspar Karampetian, President of EAFJD and leading the mission, said “this is a very important moment for Karabakh. Today’s elections are the 6th legislative elections. Nagorno Karabakh is becoming a bright example in the region for democracy, state building and development”. Karampetian mentioned the Observers, who are professionals and have observed other elections in the South Caucasus for the EU and the OSCE, are here to get that very message out. “We had an unprecedented interest in Nagorno Karabakh and those elections. We had close to 100 applications to choose from”, said Karampetian, and concluded saying “We wish all the best to all parties and candidates who are running for election. We have no doubt that these elections will be transparent, free and fair, and that the people of Artsakh will elect the Parliament that it chooses to”.

The right of Nagorno Karabakh Republic – Artsakh to elections has been recognized by the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group, spearheading the OSCE’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which noted in a statement: “parliamentary elections” are taking place [on] May 3 in Nagorno-Karabakh. In the context of a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, we recognize the role of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in deciding their future”.

Եվրոպայից ժամանած դիտորդները հանդիպել են ԼՂՀ ԿԸՀ նախագահի հետ

(ԱՊԱՌԱԺ) Կենտրոնական ընտրական հանձնաժողովի նախագահ Սրբուհի Արզումանյանն մայիսի 2-ին հանդիպել է դիտորդական առաքելությամբ ԼՂՀ-ում գտնվող Ավստրիայի, Ռումինիայի, Իտալիայի, Իռլանդիայի, Հոլանդիայի, Շվեյցարիայի, Մեծ Բրիտանիայի, Չեխիայի և Հունաստանի ներկայացուցիչների հետ: Հանդիպման ընթացքում արծարծվել են ԼՂՀ ընտրական օրենդրությանը, առաջիկա խորհրդարանական ընտրություններին վերաբերվող և դիտորդներին հետաքրքրող երկու տասնյակից ավելի հարցեր:

Խմբի հետ Արցախում է գտնվում ՀՅԴ Հայ Դատի Եվրոպայի հանձնախմբի գրասենյակի ղեկավար Գասպար Կարամպետյանը: Հանդիպմանը ներկա էին նաև ԿԸՀ անդամներն ու ԼՂՀ արտգործնախարարության պատասխանատուները: