Monday, 14 May 2007
The New York Times
Foreigners Praise Conduct of Armenian Elections
Parliamentary elections in Armenia largely complied with international standards, Western election observers said Sunday, in the first positive assessment of an election in the former Soviet republic since it gained independence in 1991.A coalition of pro-government parties took a strong majority in the 131-seat National Assembly, according to preliminary results of Saturday's election, giving a victory to Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan, who is regarded as the principal contender in the presidential race next year.
Elections in much of the former Soviet Union have routinely been rigged since Communism's collapse. The results announced Sunday in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, came after intensive diplomatic pressure against Armenia to avoid another flawed election.
The United States had threatened to withhold foreign aid if serious irregularities were repeated, and the European Union had said it would scale back its relations with Armenia.
In signs of an open campaign, opposition parties held public rallies without police harassment and were allowed free air time on public television.
