Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
67Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken or actions in conjunction with the EU to ensure that the upcoming elections in Armenia will be conducted properly in accordance with international and European standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9562/12]
View answer75Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will advocate providing the EU delegation in Armenia with additional resources to effectively monitor the upcoming elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9567/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 75 together.
Observation of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia will be carried out by the OSCE, not by the European Union. The Union does not engage in election observation activities in OSCE participating states, of which Armenia is one. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to request additional resources for the EU delegation in Armenia for this purpose.
All OSCE participating states have committed themselves to inviting international observers from other OSCE participating states, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to their elections. The ODIHR deployed a needs assessment mission to Armenia from 30 January to 1 February to advise on the type, format, duration and scope of a potential election observation activity. The report of the needs assessment mission has recommended the deployment of an election observation mission according to the standard ODIHR methodology, contingent on the receipt of an official invitation from the Armenian authorities. The ODIHR has been informed by the authorities that a timely invitation will be forthcoming once the election has been formally announced.
In its needs assessment mission report the ODIHR recommends that the election observation mission include a core team of experts, 24 long-term and 250 short-term observers. As with all such missions, Ireland and the other OSCE participating states will be in a position to nominate observers for deployment with the mission.
Ireland has full confidence in the ODIHR's election observation methodology which reflects the highest international standards for election observation, based on the principles of independence, impartiality and professionalism.
Notwithstanding that the OSCE is the agency with responsibility for election monitoring, I am sure the EU has a role in overseeing the situation, commenting, and supporting, where possible, efforts to achieve effective parliamentary elections in Armenia. In 2008, there was serious public concern about what were seen as fraudulent presidential elections, which were followed by civil unrest. We need to ensure the elections this coming May are held in a fair and transparent manner. Has the Minister had discussions with his counterparts in Europe on this? Has he had any bilateral communications with the current Armenian authorities? Despite Europe's obsession with the economic crisis - perhaps rightly so - it is important that we do not lose sight of the original objectives of the Union and how important are civil and democratic human rights. We must continue to assist and monitor wherever possible.
In fact, the European Union does not monitor elections in the OSCE region; that work is left to the OSCE itself, and there is an agreement between the EU and the OSCE to that effect. The EU carries out election monitoring in Africa, Latin America, Asia and other areas outside the OSCE. As I have said, we have already made arrangements through a needs assessment mission that took place between 30 January and 1 February, which resulted in a recommendation that there should be an election observation mission. The size of that mission has been agreed; a formal invitation is required from Armenia to bring it about, but I have no reason to believe that will not be forthcoming. I expect that when the election mission has completed its work, as is normally the case, the OSCE will publish a report of the mission, which will be available to the EU, and the Minister of State and I will take the opportunity to discuss this at the Foreign Affairs Council or the General Affairs Council, as appropriate.
