November 22, 2005 - 15:24 AMT
OSCE did not Receive Invitation to Observe Referendum in Armenia
The decision whether to invite OSCE observers to monitor the course of the referendum on constitutional amendments is Armenia's sovereign affair, OSCE Office in Yerevan head Vladimir Pryakhin stated yesterday. In his words, OSCE suggested sending an observation mission to Armenia, however the country Central Electoral Commission has not sent an official invitation. According to paragraph 8 of Copenhagen Document authorities do not obliged to invite OSCE observers, Vladimir Pryakhin stated. "OSCE mandate does not provide for observing referendums. The OSCE observes elections of common state importance - parliamentary and presidential ones," Pryakhin remarked. The OSCE Yerevan Office head also said he was sure that the constitutional reforms will prove political maturity of Armenia, reported IA Regnum.