ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY AMERICA
     122 C Street, NW
     Suite #350
     Washington, D.C. 20001


                                PRESS RELEASE

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             CONTACT: Joan Ablett
     March 17, 1998                                          (202) 393-3434


       UPDATE: ARMENIA'S ELECTORAL PROCESS CALLED TRANSPARENT, FREE, FAIR

        WASHINGTON, D.C._Unofficial reports from Armenia today indicate
     that a free, fair and transparent election process is continuing.

        Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
     Europe (OSCE) -  the international team of some 200 people who are
     monitoring Armenia's election - report that they have seen no serious
     violations at polling stations.  A Council of Europe representative,
     Bernard Owen also told AR Television that the election process was
     normal, without essential breaches. And a report submitted today to
     United Nations representatives by a CIS member-state interparliamentry
     delegation stated that no major violations had been registered, that
     the election was conducted according to Armenian legislation and fully
     meets the norms of international law.

        "The consensus among international observers seems to be that the
     Armenian people have made significant progress in their electoral
     process, which is a reflection of their commitment to the continuation
     of a democratic state," said Armenian Assembly of America Board of
     Directors Chairman Van Krikorian.  "Western diplomats have said that
     the entire process has been normal."

        Despite this significant improvement over earlier elections, there
     have been some allegations of irregularities in parts of the country.
     The Central Electoral Committee (CEC), the watchdog body which
     oversees the election, has indicated that it will investigate wherever
     there is evidence of violations.

        "We are confident that any alleged voting irregularities will be
     investigated and corrected, according to Armenian law and with the
     support of all the Armenian people," said Krikorian.  "What is
     important is that the will of the people be respected".

        An estimated 66% of eligible voters went to the polls to
     participate in the election, up from the 60.32% voter turnout in 1996.
      By midafternoon on March 16, more than half the country's 2.2
     million-member electorate had voted.

        Early results indicate a run-off election will be required in order
     to elect Armenia's next President since none of the twelve candidate
     appears to be headed toward a majority.  Under Armenian law, 50% plus
     one vote is required to win the election in the first round.  The two
     leading candidates in the run-off election, set for March 30, are
     Acting President and Prime Minister Robert Kocharian and the former
     leader of Soviet Armenia Karen Demirchian.

        The Extraordinary Presidential Election in Armenia followed the
     resignation of Levon Ter-Petrossian who stepped down last month after
     senior officials in his own government and the political opposition
     criticized him for accepting the OSCE peace plan for Nagorno Karabagh.

        The Armenian Assembly is a nationwide nonprofit organization which
     promotes public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues.

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