At the same time the central electoral commission has denied the director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies, ex-minister for foreign affairs of Armenia Raffi Hovhannisian registration as presidential candidate.

The issue of joining the European Union becomes more and more urgent for the official Yerevan. After becoming member of the Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization, Armenia has started to voice its intention of joining the European family as well. The government of the country carries out active consultations with the authorities of the leading countries of the continent about the possibilities of Armenia to become member of the European Union.