Eduard Sharmazanov: Equal conditions for all political forces  participating in the pre-electoral race are created in Armenia

ArmInfo.In Armenia, equal conditions are created for all political forces participating in the pre-electoral race. Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Eduard  Sharmazanov stated on March 16 at the meeting with First Deputy  Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Viktor Huminski 

As the press service of the parliament told ArmInfo, the vice-speaker  presented the process of harmonization of the legislation after the  constitutional reforms, as well as changes in the electoral  legislation. He assured that the new Electoral Code was adopted by  mutual consent of the authorities and the opposition. Sharmazanov  noted that Armenia is moving to a parliamentary system of government,  and on this path attaches special importance to the work and  objective assessments of the observation missions.  In this regard,  the vice-speaker considered the activities of the CIS observers  important.

Sharmazanov emphasized the importance of holding elections in  accordance with democratic standards.  "All preconditions for  organizing transparent elections are created - political and civil  will, a new Constitution." Equal conditions for all political forces  are created for the conduct of the election campaign", he stressed.

Huminski, in his turn, noted that the main goal of CIS observers is  to preserve political neutrality. In his view, changes in the EC are  revolutionary and democratic. He detailed the goals and upcoming  steps of the CIS observation mission.

To note, 76 representatives of Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan,  Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan confirmed their participation in the CIS  observation mission. In total, the mission will include 150-180  observers, 20of which, are long-term observers. They will arrive in  Armenia at the invitation of the Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. In  addition, a long-term observation mission of the OSCE/ODIHR began its  activities on 23 February. 14 experts of the group and 28 observers  arrived in Armenia. To accomplish the mission on election day, 250  more observers will join them. Also, 3,500 observers from the  "Citizen-Observer" initiative are expected to attend.