YEREVAN.- UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach welcomed Armenian President’s commitment to holding Armenia’s best ever election.

However, she noted it is disappointing that three of the key non-government parties in parliament are neither putting up a candidate of their own nor backing any other, Ambassador wrote on her blog summing up the year of 2012 and outlining the challenges for 2013. UK will send 25 election observers to join the ODIHR mission, she said.

“Are these parties not standing because they lack finance, because they lack trust in a fair result, or because they are not really opposition parties as we would normally understand the concept? If they lack finance, is it because potential wealthy backers are concerned about what will happen to their businesses if they back the wrong horse – or because they have not found a way of communicating their message in a way which would inspire donations from the general public?” Katherine Leach wonders.

She said during conversation with members of all the parties, they will be doing their best to understand what more could be done to promote a truly vibrant spirit of political competition.    

UK Ambassador pointed out three crucial areas for state authorities to focus on during the elections, among them the voter list, the involvement of public servants and responding vigorously to complaints.