ICES starts monitoring of Armenia’s electoral processFebruary 2, 2013 - 20:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Despite the possible delay of Armenian presidential elections, ICES observer mission is launching the planned monitoring of the preparation and conduction of 2013 polls. “ICES experts were shocked by the assassination attempt on presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan, wishing him speedy recovery and urging relevant institutions to conduct operative investigation,” ICES statement reads. The group of long-term observers will include 8 experts and will commence their work on February 3 of 2013. It plans to organize meetings with presidential candidates, parliamentary group leaders, representatives of campaign headquarters and Armenian media. The main group of short-term observers will arrive in Armenia on Feb 14 unless the elections are postponed for a longer term. On the Election Day all experts will be disbursed to various cities in Armenia in order to have maximum coverage of the regional electoral precincts. The mission is comprised of independent experts, including attorneys and former diplomats, political scientists, media representatives and Members of European and national Parliaments, representing countries of the European Union, United States and Israel. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |