EU Troika express hope for free and fair presidential elections in Armenia

by Tatul Hakobyan

Published: Saturday February 09, 2008

Dimitrij Rupel, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Dimitrij Rupel with President Robert Kocharian  . Photolure

Yerevan - Less than two weeks before the presidential elections in Armenia, the European Union Troika, comprised of Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European commissioner for external relations and European neighborhood policy, Dimitrij Rupel, minister of foreign affairs of Slovenia, and Ambassador Peter Semneby, EU special representative for the Southern Caucasus were in Yerevan. The European officials had high-level talks with Armenian authorities on February 6. Although the visit was regional and the Troika has had meetings in Baku and Tbilisi, the EU's main focus is Armenia because of the upcoming elections.

Mr. Rupel, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, at a joint press conference with Ms. Ferrero-Waldner and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian of Armenia said, "We have found that the democratic atmosphere [in Armenia] has progressed. This presidential elections will be an opportunity to improve some standards even if the previous elections have not been bad."

For her part Ms. Ferrero-­Waldner added; "We do hope that the presidential elections will indeed be free and fair. The last parliamentary elections already have shown good results. We are confident that the presidential elections will be competitive, free, and fair. And we do hope here in Armenia that the OSCE/ODHIR observer mission will have such an assessment."

The presidential elections are important not only for Armenia, but also for the European Union since Armenia is an important partner of the EU in this region. Mr. Semenby expressed this sentiment during the opening ceremony of the premises of the European Commission in Armenia on February 5. The representative stated that elections are an important part of democratic development, and since democratic development is one of the priorities of bilateral cooperation, elections can play a certain role from the perspective of Armenia-EU relations.

Ms. Ferrero-Waldner and Mr. Oskanian opened the new premises of the European Commission Delegation on February 5.

The EU Troika also met with president Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serge Sargsian. Both the president and the prime minister made assurances of their commitment to holding free and fair elections.

We are interested in holding really good elections in accordance with international standards," Mr. Kocharian assured the EU officials. According to a press release from the presidential press service, Mr. Kocharian also briefed the European officials on the current state of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and his government's efforts to ensure Armenia's energy security.

Mr. Oskanian at a press briefing said that the Troika's visit to Armenia had come at a very important time: the country is heading for presidential elections while at the same time the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan is being successfully implemented. The action plan, according to the minister, will provide possibilities to strengthen and deepen relations and further the integration process with Europe. "During this visit we reiterated our commitment to those principles that we have adopted and the EU has shown its commitment to seeing a peaceful, developed, and democratic society in this region."

The action plan, which was signed on November 11, 2006, has several priority areas: Strengthening of democratic structures, of the rule of law, including reform of the judiciary, and combatting fraud and corruption; respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; encouraging further economic development, enhancing poverty reduction efforts and social cohesion; further improvement of the investment climate and convergence of economic legislation and administrative practices; contributing to a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; enhancing efforts in the field of regional cooperation; development of an energy strategy, including an early decommissioning of the Metsamor nuclear power plant.

Military option is never an option

During their visit to Yerevan, the EU Troika discussed the action plan, Armenia-EU bilateral relations, the presidential elections, and also regional issues. The main priority for the EU in this region is the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as well as Armenia-Turkey relations.

Mr. Rupel said the EU would like diplomatic efforts regarding the Karabakh issue to continue. "Armenian-Turkish relations remain somehow blocked or not progressing fast enough. The borders are still closed, but I understand from the account of the foreign minister that channels are open and will continue to be open. That is a chance to move forward. The EU is here to assist in that progress. We want diplomatic relations to be established" between Armenia and Turkey, Mr. Rupel added.

Concerning the Karabakh peace process and militaristic rhetoric coming from Baku, the Slovenian foreign minister said the EU is against any military options regarding Karabakh or any other conflict or method of conflict resolution. "We are trying to advocate to strengthen diplomatic methods of conflict resolution. We are recommending confidence-building measures. We are not supporting any military option or any military rhetoric. We even recommended that such rhetoric should be avoided by all means," he said.

Mr. Rupel also emphasized that the EU has a policy for the whole South Caucasus and the main message they are trying to send is that "our friends should also be friends with each other."

Ms. Ferrero Waldner's comments were short and to the point: "Military option is never an option."

Caspian gas and Metsamor

During the Troika's visits to Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevan, energy was one of the key issues and priorities discussed. In Yerevan, Ms. Ferrero Waldner said that Azerbaijan is "an important source of energy, particularly of gas and indeed in the future we want to work with Azerbaijan."