OSCE Office supports publication on political parties taking part in Armenian parliamentary elections

YEREVAN, 2 May 2007 - An OSCE-supported handbook summarizing the programmes, activities and goals of political parties running for the 12 May parliamentary elections in Armenia was presented in Yerevan today.

The publication was compiled by the Civil and Social Development Foundation with financial support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan and USAID Counterpart International Civic Advocacy Support Programme in Armenia.

"In any democratic society citizens have the right to know what the political parties running for elections stand for," said Marc Bojanic, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office. "I believe this publication will provide Armenian voters with the tools to make an informed decision and contribute to the fairness of the electoral process."

Samvel Mkhitaryan, the Chairman of the Foundation for Civil and Social Development, added: "The citizens' conscious and well-informed choice is crucial for consolidating civil society. This publication will give voters unbiased and systematized information on the political platforms, programmes and objectives of parties running for the elections."

The guidebook has a circulation of 9000 copies, and will be distributed among political parties, NGOs conducting local observations, media and the public. An electronic version of the guidebook as well as the electronic database of political parties running for the parliamentary elections will be available online at www.fcsd.am

The publication is part of the OSCE Office's project to assist Armenia on electoral issues. The Office has already published a Manual on Electoral Legislation and Administration and a Guide for Precinct Electoral Commission Members that are used for training of electoral commission members.