Round table on election legislation held in Yerevan

YEREVAN, 12 February 2001 - Proposed amendments to the Electoral Code of Armenia were the focus of an expert round table held in Yerevan on 9 February 2001. The event was a follow-up to a series of meetings and consultations held with the National Assembly and other authorities in the Republic of Armenia as part of the 'Review of Electoral Legislation' project carried out by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).

The participants discussed various aspects of election legislation in Armenia. Experts from the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission presented their assessment and remarks on the Electoral Code. In the course of the discussion, comments and suggestions were made on the implementation of the1999 Election Code, including procedures related to the formation and activity of electoral commissions, regulations on candidate registration and campaigns, preparation and implementation of electoral process, and participation of special groups in elections.

In closing, participants agreed that a working group within the Parliamentary Commission for State and Legal Affairs will summarize the proposals made at the round table and prepare, within 18 months, a draft for amending the Code. The text will be shared with OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission, and a public hearing on the draft will then be held in the National Assembly.

The round table was organized by the OSCE in co-operation with the Commission for State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly, the Central Electoral Commission and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Representatives of parliamentary and non-parliamentary political parties, independent experts, civil society, and media attended the event.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan was established in February 2000 to promote the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments as well as the co-operation of the Republic of Armenia within the OSCE framework, in all OSCE dimensions, including the human, political, economic and environmental aspects of security and stability.

For further information please contact Ms. Gohar Avagyan, Office Co-ordinator, OSCE Office in Yerevan, tel.: +374 1 54 10 62, + 374 1 54 58 45; e-mail: osce@osce.am