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On May 11, the representatives of the RA NA all Factions met with the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Monitoring Committee Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati and the Committee Secretary Bas Klein.

The first meeting was with the Secretary of the RA NA Heritage Faction Tevan Poghosyan and the Faction member Rubik Hakobyan.

The co-rapporteur Alan Meale has informed that the goal of the meeting with the NA factions is to listen to the views and opinions on the steps being taken within the framework of the Constitutional amendments in Armenia and the electoral reforms.

Tevan Poghosyan presented his approaches about the RA Draft Electoral Code (EC) passed in the first reading in the parliament. He highlighted the rise of the public trust towards the electoral processes.

At the meeting the Nagorno Karabakh problem was also touched upon. Tevan Poghosyan proposed the co-rapporteur to personally visit Artsakh and get acquainted with the situation.

The Head of the ARF Faction Armen Rustamyan and the Faction Secretary Aghvan Vardanyan also met with the co-rapporteur of PACE Monitoring Committee Alan Meale.

Talking about the RA Draft Electoral Code Armen Rustamyan noted that the authors accepted the main recommendations submitted by them. In the word of the Head of the Faction, everything is done for passing the RA Electoral Code by consensus. It has been noted that important steps are taken to eliminate the shortcomings recorded in the electoral process: in this context the availability of more reliable system of fight against electoral fraud was particularly highlighted.

Touching upon the NK problem Armen Rustamyan noted that the sides should respect their obligations assumed bfore the Council of Europe, i. e. solve the problem through negotiations, political and peaceful means. In this context the Head of the Faction has noted that he expects targeted and distinct assessments from two co-rapporteurs, as it is evident that Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire.

The co-rapporteur of PACE Monitoring Committee Alan Meale noted that the NK problem should be solved through peaceful and negotiating means.

During the meeting the sides also touched upon the change of the government system.

The Head of the RA NA Armenian National Congress (ANC) Faction Levon Zurabyan also met with the co-rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Committee Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati.

The Head of the Faction considered falsified the Constitutional referendum, and then he presented the five main recommendations of the NA ANC Faction on the RA Draft Electoral Code.

Touching upon the debates on the Draft EC in 4+4+4 format, Levon Zurabyan informed that though the power made some concessions, nevertheless no mutual agreement had been reached on the main issues.

The Secretary of the RA NA Rule of Law Faction Mher Shahgeldyan and the member of the Faction Hovhannes Margaryan met with the co-rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Committee Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati.

First, the Secretary of the Faction referred to the Constitutional reforms, noting that the Rule of Law faction was not for the amendments. Mher Shahgeldyan informed the guests that the big part of their recommendations on the Constitutional amendments was not adopted.

Touching upon the parliamentary government system Mher Shahgeldyan has noted that with the version the Draft EC has been presented is not admissible.

Hovhannes Margaryan also touched upon the RA Constitutional reforms, the Draft EC, the rating elections designed by the RA Electoral Committee, the summarization of the ballot papers in the electoral districts, the use of the video equipment and the publication of the signed lists.

The members of the RA NA Prosperous Armenia Faction Mikayel Melkumyan, Armen Avetisyan and Vahe Enfiajyan also met with the co-rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Committee Alan Meale and Giuseppe Galati and the Committee Secretary Bas Klein who made a fact-finding visit to Armenia.

Mikayel Melkumyan noted that there had been debates on the Draft Electoral Code, as a result of which, compromises did not occur, but a number of recommendations presented by them were accepted by the authorities. Mr Melkumyan referred to the specification of electoral lists, the possibility of voting with finger prints and the necessity of publication of lists. He highlighted the compromises to be made by the power for organizing fair and transparent elections. The members of the faction have also talked about the voting with electronic finger prints and have noted that they expect technical support relating to such voting. Mr Melkumyan has documented that in case of consolidation of political forces it is possible to have strong and democratic state.

The Secretary of the RA NA RPA Faction Gagik Melikyan and the members of the Faction Gagik Minasyan, Margarit Yesayan, Shirak Torosyan, Karen Bekaryan, Naira Karapetyan and Vahram Mkrtchyan, meeting with the co-rapporteurs presented the activities of the NA RPA Faction on the RA Draft Electoral Code. The members of the Faction in detail touched upon all the issues, which were raised by the opposition and the civil society during the debates.

They touched upon the publication of the electoral lists, the online video shooting, the efficiency of the advice being provided to our country, the exclusion of the mechanisms of the electoral bribe and double voting, the amendment concerning the majoritarian and proportional electoral systems.

Summing up his colleagues’ words Gagik Melikyan has noted that the ultimate goal of the authorities is to reach the consolidation of all political forces. The MPs thoroughly answered the questions of PACE Monitoring Committee members.