EUROPEAN OBSERVER CRITICISM OVER ARMENIAN ELECTION NOT TO HAMPER DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA-CE RELATIONS, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONSIDERS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Criticism of OSCE and PACE observers over the presidential and parliamentary election in Armenia will not hamper the development of relations between Armenia and the Council of Europe (CE). Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian expressed such an opinion today, "Arka" agency reports. In his words, the tense passions on the presidential election have settled down and today everything returned to the normal course. The minister reminded that the CE representatives had proposed introducing serious changes into the Electoral Code of Armenia for further perfection of the election process. "I do not see any problems in Armenia-CE relations. If there were shortcomings and omissions within the period of election, our goal is to correct them for the next election to be held in 4-5 years to meet international standards," - V. Oskanian said. It should be reminded that according to the preliminary report of the joint OSCE and PACE observation mission on the parliamentary election held May 25 "the election in Armenia became another step forward in comparison with the presidential one, however, on the basic parameters it does not fit international standards yet."