YEREVAN (Armenpress)–A delegation of senior officials of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly–who are in Yerevan to see how the OSCE Yerevan office is coming along–met on May 7 with senior members of the Armenian parliament.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Gagik Aslanian praised the OSCE Yerevan office for its assistance in drafting and elaborating many legislative motions. "The Yerevan OSCE office has taken the lead in drafting and helping elaborate many key bills," Aslanian said.
Aslanian told the OSCE officials about the acting Armenian electoral legislation–a package of amendmen’s approved in the first reading. He also spoke about the closure of the only independent A1 Plus television station and two packages of constitutional reforms–one drafted by six opposition parties and the other by a special presidential commission–both put into circulation in the parliament.
Head of the Yerevan OSCE office–Ambassador Roy Reeve said the office will organize discussions May 15-17 on one of the most controversial amendment to electoral law–particularly on how all-level electoral commissions are to be formed.
Members of the OSCE delegation also met on May 7 with heads of parliament committees to learn their position on the Karabakh regulation process. Artashes Geghamian–leader of the National Union party–was quoted as saying that "democracy in Armenia is jeopardized and the regulation of Karabakh conflict is contingent on free and just elections in Armenia."
Arthur Baghdasarian from the Country of Law party was quoted as saying that the OSCE may be helpful in bringing together parliamentarians from Azerbaijan and Armenia to seek reconciliation.