U.S. Department of State 
96/10/22 Statement: Armenian Presidential Election  
Office of the Spokesman  
  
  
  
Press Statement by Nicholas Burns/Spokesman 
October 22, 1996 
 
  
  
                     Armenian Presidential Election  
  
  
On September 22, the Republic of Armenia held Presidential elections.   
According to official results, President Levon Ter-Petrossian was re- 
elected with 51.7% of the vote.  Opposition parties mounted effective  
campaigns as well, with the leading opposition figure, Vazgen Manukyan,  
capturing 41% of the vote.  
  
Since the 1995 parliamentary elections, progress was made to improve the  
electoral process including redrafting the election law and establishing  
a new Central Election Commission.  Observers noted a well-managed  
process in many local precincts.  However, international observers,  
including the OSCE, reported that serious breaches overshadowed this  
progress.  Irregularities in balloting and vote tabulation, particularly  
in Yerevan, remain a cause of deep concern.  The United States calls on  
the Armenian government to implement the recommendations of  
international experts in order to address these flaws and to build  
confidence in the integrity of Armenia's electoral process.  
  
Regrettably, some opposition leaders chose to express their frustration  
through the path of violence against the Armenian Parliament on  
September 25.  While the U.S. strongly supports the rights of all  
Armenians to peacefully assemble and express their views, we condemn  
such violence, which has no place in democracy and only polarizes  
Armenian society.  In responding to such acts, the United States calls  
on Armenian authorities to ensure respect for due process and adherence  
to international human rights practices, including continued ICRC access  
to prisoners.  
  
The United States urges the Armenian government and opposition to  
continue to take concrete steps to promote reconciliation.  In that  
context, the United States welcomes the announcements by the government  
and opposition to redress grievances on the election results in the  
Constitutional Court, consistent with Armenian law.  The United States  
welcomes steps by the government and the opposition toward building an  
open political process and calls on all people and political parties in  
Armenia committed to working within the law to forge a political  
dialogue across party lines.  
  
The United States remains committed to working with Armenia to help  
build an independent, democratic and prosperous state at peace with its  
neighbors.