Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE59351
2009-06-09 20:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON MUNICIPAL
how-toVZCZCXRO4634 PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR DE RUEHC #9351 1602047 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 092026Z JUN 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1148 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 059351
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AM KDEM OSCE PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS IN YEREVAN
Madam Chairwoman:
On May 31 Armenian voters in the capital of Yerevan went to
the polls to elect members of the Yerevan city council and,
indirectly, the mayor of Yerevan. We welcome the fact that,
for the first time since Armenia,s independence, these
important offices were filled through an election process.
We note there were some welcome improvements in the
atmosphere surrounding the pre-election campaign. However,
the conduct of the elections themselves raised concerns that
many voters were unable to exercise freely their democratic
rights.
We commend the Armenian authorities for an improved media
climate that afforded all parties and candidates the ability
to reach voters through the electronic media. Although some
opposition parties received less overall coverage than
parties in the ruling coalition, the coverage of the
opposition -- unlike in the 2008 presidential campaign -- was
generally neutral in content. Opposition candidates and
their supporters were provided opportunities to make their
case in extended interviews on various television outlets,
including public television, and they took advantage of many
of those opportunities.
It is true there were some unfortunate instances of violence
against opposition supporters and among representatives of
parties from the ruling coalition during the course of the
campaign, which we urge authorities to investigate and
prosecute. But we welcome the fact that, all parties were
generally free in practice to hold public meetings and
rallies, and to convey their messages directly to the voters.
The voting process, however, presents a different story.
Based on reports by election observers from our embassy in
Yerevan and on our discussions with other local and
international observers, we could only conclude that the
voting process on Election Day was marred by widespread fraud
and intimidation. We observed incidents of ballot-stuffing,
multiple voting, falsified vote counts, intimidation of party
proxies and observers, and the illegal presence of
unauthorized and unidentified individuals in polling
stations. These clear violations of OSCE commitments -- and
of the Armenian Election Code -- were especially egregious in
Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district, but were observed in
other electoral districts as well. They unfortunately
repeated a disturbing pattern of similar violations witnessed
in previous elections in Armenia. We urge the authorities to
implement recommendations made in previous OSCE/ODIHR
Election Observation Mission Reports in order to bring the
election process more closely in line with OSCE commitments.
We are pleased to see that the authorities have acknowledged
fraud and irregularities in some areas, and have taken steps
toward addressing them. The vote in some precincts has been
recounted and several arrests have been made. We urge the
authorities to identify those responsible, and to prosecute
them swiftly and aggressively. It is up to the authorities
to send the clear signal that those who interfere with the
democratic process will be punished.
Finally, in spite of the flawed election that I have
described, we note that one opposition party won a
significant number of seats on Yerevan,s municipal council.
Although we understand the disappointment that opposition
supporters feel concerning the conduct of the vote, we urge
opposition leaders to take up their mandates on the council
and represent their voters through full and active
participation in the governance of Yerevan. It is only
through constructive engagement in the democratic process,
with an eye to its continual improvement, that the democratic
aspirations of Armenian citizens can finally be realized.
Thank you.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AM KDEM OSCE PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS IN YEREVAN
Madam Chairwoman:
On May 31 Armenian voters in the capital of Yerevan went to
the polls to elect members of the Yerevan city council and,
indirectly, the mayor of Yerevan. We welcome the fact that,
for the first time since Armenia,s independence, these
important offices were filled through an election process.
We note there were some welcome improvements in the
atmosphere surrounding the pre-election campaign. However,
the conduct of the elections themselves raised concerns that
many voters were unable to exercise freely their democratic
rights.
We commend the Armenian authorities for an improved media
climate that afforded all parties and candidates the ability
to reach voters through the electronic media. Although some
opposition parties received less overall coverage than
parties in the ruling coalition, the coverage of the
opposition -- unlike in the 2008 presidential campaign -- was
generally neutral in content. Opposition candidates and
their supporters were provided opportunities to make their
case in extended interviews on various television outlets,
including public television, and they took advantage of many
of those opportunities.
It is true there were some unfortunate instances of violence
against opposition supporters and among representatives of
parties from the ruling coalition during the course of the
campaign, which we urge authorities to investigate and
prosecute. But we welcome the fact that, all parties were
generally free in practice to hold public meetings and
rallies, and to convey their messages directly to the voters.
The voting process, however, presents a different story.
Based on reports by election observers from our embassy in
Yerevan and on our discussions with other local and
international observers, we could only conclude that the
voting process on Election Day was marred by widespread fraud
and intimidation. We observed incidents of ballot-stuffing,
multiple voting, falsified vote counts, intimidation of party
proxies and observers, and the illegal presence of
unauthorized and unidentified individuals in polling
stations. These clear violations of OSCE commitments -- and
of the Armenian Election Code -- were especially egregious in
Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district, but were observed in
other electoral districts as well. They unfortunately
repeated a disturbing pattern of similar violations witnessed
in previous elections in Armenia. We urge the authorities to
implement recommendations made in previous OSCE/ODIHR
Election Observation Mission Reports in order to bring the
election process more closely in line with OSCE commitments.
We are pleased to see that the authorities have acknowledged
fraud and irregularities in some areas, and have taken steps
toward addressing them. The vote in some precincts has been
recounted and several arrests have been made. We urge the
authorities to identify those responsible, and to prosecute
them swiftly and aggressively. It is up to the authorities
to send the clear signal that those who interfere with the
democratic process will be punished.
Finally, in spite of the flawed election that I have
described, we note that one opposition party won a
significant number of seats on Yerevan,s municipal council.
Although we understand the disappointment that opposition
supporters feel concerning the conduct of the vote, we urge
opposition leaders to take up their mandates on the council
and represent their voters through full and active
participation in the governance of Yerevan. It is only
through constructive engagement in the democratic process,
with an eye to its continual improvement, that the democratic
aspirations of Armenian citizens can finally be realized.
Thank you.
CLINTON