22/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Thursday 21 February, Benita Ferrero-Waldner has welcomed the unfolding of the presidential elections in Armenia, which were held “globally in line” with international standards. The vote, which took place on 19 February, saw first-round victory for Prime Minister Serge Sarkissian. Although further improvements will be necessary in order to shore up the confidence of the population, amongst other things, the commissioner for external relations notes that considerable progress has been made in terms of the preparations for, and unfolding of, the electoral process since the last presidential elections of 2003, thanks to the reforms carried out. (A.B.)