"An invitation to observe elections is an invitation to all OSCE participating States, and is issued in order to ensure equal treatment and strengthen the diversity of observation," Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Christian Strohal stated in connection with Armenia's refusal to issue visas for eight OSCE observers from Turkey. "Preventing some observers from participating contradicts the principles of transparency and objectivity which are an indispensable aspect of democratic elections," he said. The ODIHR Director also stressed that this refusal came unexpectedly and no official reason was given as to why the observers could not enter the country. "The Armenian Government, just like the governments of all other OSCE States, is bound by its acceptance of OSCE commitments on democratic elections, which include an invitation to all OSCE States to observe elections," Strohal stated, the OSCE Press Office reports.

There will be no Turkish observers at the Armenian May 12 parliamentary election, RA MFA Acting Spokesman Vladimir Karapetian told the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist yesterday. He said, Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations and that is why Turkish observers won't be present at the election.