November 4, 2005 - 13:33 AMT
OSCE Representatives Not To Observe Constitutional Referendum in RA
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Thursday that it will not send observers to Armenia to monitor the conduct of the upcoming constitutional referendum. "We have not received an invitation. We do not observe elections and referendums without receiving an invitation," OSCE spokeswoman for the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Urdur Gunnarsdottir said adding that the invitation could be sent by the President Administration, the Foreign Ministry or the Central Election Committee. According to RA MFA Press Secretary, the Ministry has no such responsibility. Officials at the National Assembly as well as the Central Election Commission insisted that it is not their job to invite foreign observers. The only European body that will watch the Armenian referendum is the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). However, it emerged on Wednesday that the PACE's observation mission will comprise only a dozen members, RFE/RL reported.