Brussels, 02/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - During her visit to Yerevan on Tuesday 1 March, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini insisted on the fact that “particular attention” should be paid to the reform of Armenia's electoral system.
This reform “should be carried out in due time and in an inclusive manner, so that all stakeholders would be able to build broad consensus”, she said at a press conference with Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. Mogherini also spoke about the constitutional referendum organised on 6 December 2015, which dealt with a return to a parliamentary system. The turnout for this referendum was 50.8% and the constitutional reform was approved by 66.2%. Several political parties nevertheless raised complaints of fraud.
Mogherini stated that “without a transparent investigation of all alleged frauds as well as appropriate measures taken, if these are confirmed, the recent constitutional referendum would be a missed opportunity to increase the confidence in, and the integrity of, electoral processes in Armenia”. She added that Armenia should implement the OSCE recommendations resulting from the referendum and the previous elections, which are aimed at drawing up detailed electoral lists, preventing the abusive use of public resources in electoral campaigns, strengthening guarantees against irregularities on election day, and improving mechanisms for complaint.
Mogherini also underlined the importance of working on the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the fight against corruption, as well as working on the reform of the electoral system. She stated that the EU would continue to support Armenia in its efforts at social and economic reform, and in strengthening the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Nalbandian highlighted the new agreement between the EU and Armenia, which is currently being negotiated. He said that the two sides had expressed their “mutual satisfaction” at the progress achieved thus far (see EUROPE 11447), and reaffirmed “Armenia's commitment to extending and strengthening overall cooperation with the EU”. He also stated, once again, that he would like a dialogue on visa liberalisation to begin (see EUROPE 11471).
In addition, Mogherini and Nalbandian discussed the Syrian crisis. Mogherini announced that the EU was studying the possibilities of helping Armenia - particularly through the EU trust fund. According to Nalbandian, Armenia is hosting 20,000 Syrian refugees.
Just as she had done the previous day with Azerbaijan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov, Mogherini spoke to Nalbandian about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh (see EUROPE 11502). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)