156th CONGRESS Printed for the use of the 2nd Session Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe REPORT ON ARMENIAS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS MARCH 16 AND 30, 1998 A Report Prepared by the Staff of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe WASHINGTON:1998 This report is based on Helsinki Commission staff delegations to Armenia to observe both rounds of the March 1998 presidential election. As part of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Observer Delegation during the first round, Commission Staff attended meetings with the Central Election Commission and most of the candidates. Commission staff also spoke with representa- tives of the media, NGOs, and the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission. During the second round, the Helsinki Commissions Senior Advisor worked closely with the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, the Yerevan office of the National Democratic Institute, and the U.S. Embassy. On election day, he spoke with regional and local election offi- cials, candidates proxies and voters. The Helsinki Commission wishes to express its gratitude to the OSCE Parliamentary As- sembly, and to Ambassador Peter Tomsen and the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan. ii Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 234 Ford House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-6460 (202) 225-1901
[email protected] http://www.house.gov/csce/ ALFONSE D’AMATO, New York, Chairman CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, Co-Chairman JOHN EDWARD PORTER, Illinois BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado FRANK R. WOLF, Virginia SPENCER ABRAHAM, Michigan MATT SALMON, Arizona CONRAD BURNS, Montana JON CHRISTENSEN, Nebraska OLYMPIA SNOWE, Maine STENY H. HOYER, Maryland FRANK R.