JOHN EVANS: CHANGE OF POWER NOT NECESSARY CONDITION FOR DEMOCRATIZATION IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Ambassador to the RA John Evans said the U.S. does not consider change of power to be an essential condition for democratization in Armenia and will exert every effort to make the parliamentary elections in 2007 and presidential election in 2008 free and fair, RFE/RL reports. Mr. Evan confirmed the U.S.'s support to the constitutional reform. "Armenia has a possibility to pass the necessary changes in constitutional order", the Ambassador noted adding that the U.S. is not trying to tell the Armenian electorate how to vote. "We say the following: this is a very important task, which is worth proper attention of the voters and serious discussion in the National Assembly", the diplomat said. The Ambassador does not think that the constitutional reform will empower Robert Kocharian to run for President for the third time. When asked of the consequences of an unfair referendum, the Ambassador said, " We witnessed how falsified elections drove people to streets. It should serve as a good lesson not only for Armenia but also for all the states of the region. People are expecting fair election. So does the U.S.", he said.