YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) published the “Needs Assessment Mission Report” ahead of Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, “Armenpress” reports citing the OSCE official website.

The report identified certain positive changes and progress over the reforms of electoral processes.

In particular, the report says the electoral process reforms in Armenia were carried out as a result of wide public discussions and the existence of political consensus.

According to the report, many interlocutors of the OSCE/ODIHR needs assessment mission highly welcomed the legislative changes, considering the public discussions and the cooperation atmosphere between the political forces as a positive step aimed at forming an atmosphere of trust within the public ahead of the elections.

The report says Armenia’s new Electoral Code addressed many previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, including those related to voter lists and identification, women’s representation as candidates, complaints and appeals, and rules on campaign and campaign finance.

The civil society carried out active work during the discussions of the new Electoral Code. It played an important role in the process of electoral reforms, however, not always agreed with the final reforms, the report says.