Polling Station, Arabkir, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian/Oneworld Multimedia 2007

While Mediamax reports that the United States has offered Armenia technical assistance for next year’s election which some in diplomatic circles believe will be held on 17 February, other concerns are being raised ahead of the vote. In the recent parliamentary election, U.S. technical assistance included the provision of computers to the Central Election Commission (CEC) and training for CEC, TEC and PEC members through IFES.

Anyway, here’s how Mediamax reported news of the offer extended to the prime minister, Serzh Sarkisian, on his visit to to the U.S. last week.

During a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan on Tuesday [23 October] in Washington, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed on behalf of the US government readiness in case of necessity to assist the Armenian authorities in the solution of technical problems while organizing the presidential elections of 2008.

However, in related news, RFE/RL reports that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) whose ODIHR office monitors elections is already raising concerns about new restrictions on the size of such missions suggested by Russia, Belarus and four Central Asian states on their activity. As Armenia is reported to support the initiative, the news must ring some alarm bells among opposition and pro-democracy activists.

The full post is available on the Armenia Election Monitor 2008 Blog.