“If a village headman considers himself to be an electoral arbitrator, nothing will be changed” (video)
Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction secretary Aram Manukyan considers the document published by the European Commission on the progress of Armenia in 2014 to be very disturbing, “All the assessments of the RA by all the organizations are very negative. There is no progress relating to human rights, democracy, economy or the RA in general.” It is also noted in the document of the European Commission that limited progress was recorded in the human rights and judicial system and in the spheres of freedom of rallies. Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) lawmaker Koryun Nahapetyan doesn’t reject that there are problems, but the RA authorities are interested in solving them, “The process of constitutional amendments initiated by the President of the Republic is a vivid proof that there are problems in terms of judicial system, human rights and freedom of rallies. And all they demand new constitutional solutions.” Head of Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) faction Naira Zohrabyan has noticed a serious activation in the relations between the RA and the EU. But she thinks that a final document won’t be signed during Eastern Partnership Summit due in May in Riga, as the document of cooperation with the EU must include both the political and economic parts, “It must be included as half of turnover of the RA is with the RF and another half is with the EU. The economic part, which won’t contradict our commitments of the Customs Union treaty, I think that some economic part will be included.” Koryun Nahapetyan introduces, “There is a clear understanding, that separate work must be carried out particularly with the countries of the Eastern Partnership, and the format, which was proposed by European high-ranking officials for all the 6 countries of the Eastern Partnership, was considered to be an unacceptable option.” It was noteworthy for Naira Zohrabyan, that finally the EU touched upon the issue of publication of electoral rolls after voting, “It is very good that they accept that there is such a problem. The most perfect Electoral Code won’t change anything, if there is no political will, if our defective voting systems continue, if administrative resources are used, if each village headman considers himself to be an electoral arbitrator on election day and he decides the course of elections.” By the way, the representatives of the Republican Party assure that all the proposals and remarks made by the European Commission, which will be acceptable for the RA authorities, will be implemented.
