14/01/2013 Election observation
Strasbourg 14.01.2013 – A five-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by Karin Woldseth (Norway, EDG), will carry out a pre-electoral visit to Yerevan on 16-17 January 2013, to assess the electoral framework and campaign prior to the presidential elections of 18 February 2013 in Armenia.
The delegation is due to meet the President of Armenia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the main candidates for the presidency and leaders of factions in parliament. Discussions are also scheduled with the General Prosecutor, the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission and representatives of the diplomatic corps, civil society and media.
A full 22-member delegation from the Assembly will return to the country to observe the voting before making a final assessment.
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A press conference is scheduled for 7.30 pm on Thursday 17 January at the Marriott Hotel in Yerevan (1 Amiryan Street, Room Trdat 2).
Members of the delegation:
Karin Woldseth (Norway, EDG), head of the delegation
Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD)
Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC)
Mailis Reps (Estonia, ALDE)
Axel Fischer (Germany, EPP/CD), PACE co-rapporteur for the monitoring of Armenia