European Union Calls on Armenia to Correct Flaws of May 6 Elections

BRUSSELS — Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Štefan Füle, European Commission Vice President, have publicized the European Neighborhood Policy Package, which includes a report on Armenia.
“In general, Armenia has also made a progress in the spheres of democracy and human rights defense,” the report says.
The report calls on authorities to correct the flaws reported in the May 6 parliamentary elections, before next February’s presidential election. The EU also wants to see a full investigation into the deaths resulting from March 1, 2008 clashes that resulted from the last presidential election.
The report also calls on Armenia to adopt amendments to the legislation on broadcasting in compliance with the recommendations of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and ensure pluralism in the broadcasting media.
In a related development, the election victory of Armenia’s ruling party is credit positive as it “will ensure a degree of political stability and policy continuity,” according to Moody’s.
“Key challenges for the new Armenian government lie in managing the geo-politically sensitive region of Nagorno Karabakh, over which Armenia and Azerbaijan are in disagreement, and of the closed border with its neighbor country, Turkey,” analysts at the investors’ service said, according to Bloomberg.
Armenia is rated Ba2 with a negative outlook at Moody’s, the second best junk rating.