Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President (PACE) Peter Schieder today called on the Armenian authorities and the opposition to calm the political climate in the country in the run-up to the second round of the presidential election, a PACE press release said.
“It is the duty of the authorities to do their best to overcome tensions without resorting to disproportionate means to maintain public order,” Peter Schieder said, calling for the immediate release of opposition campaigners arrested. The President also called for the opposition to fully respect the constitutional and legal order of the country.
“We are seriously concerned about the shortcomings and irregularities reported by the international election observation mission after the first round. If Armenia wants to live up to its democratic obligations as a member country of the Council of Europe, such irregularities should not be reproduced during the second round,” he stressed.
Peter Schieder also appealed for greater transparency in the counting process and for the rapid publication of voting results. “The Parliamentary Assembly stands ready to observe the second round on 5 March alongside observers from the OSCE/ODIHR,” he announced.
“We expect 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,” Peter Schieder concluded.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.