May 11, 2007

Heritage Meets With European Monitors, Establishes Election Information Center

Yerevan—Today, May 11, Heritage Party leader Raffi K. Hovannisian met with representatives of the OSCE and Council of Europe observation missions. They focused on the quality of the campaign season as it relates to democratic benchmarks of fairness and transparency. In spite of the numerous violations registered during this period, Hovannisian still expected that the parliamentary elections will in their essence meet international standards. They agreed that this special opportunity for Armenia ’s democratic recovery should not be missed.

Meanwhile, Heritage opened an information center that will coordinate election monitoring efforts. The center will operate beginning today from the party’s campaign headquarters, and will gather all information regarding electoral misconduct from Heritage’s authorized observers who will phone in at 11am, 2pm, 5pm, and 8pm on May 12. Calls from ordinary citizens throughout the country will complement these data, as the center compiles an accurate picture of the election process. A computer and statistics department will serve to authenticate, organize, and present each piece of information for the full report.

The findings of the center will be issued in press releases on May 12. Also, at 3pm and 8pm on the same day, press briefings will be held at Heritage Headquarters, located at 31 Moscovian Street , where all available data will be publicized. The data will also be posted on Heritage’s website: www.heritage.am