Yerevan/Mediamax/. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said today that "there were several good positive signs at the elections of February 12”.

Talking to Mediamax’s correspondent, John Heffern said that “it was exciting to see a strong political competition in Hrazdan, where there were two strong candidates.”

“We would also like to see a real political competition at the upcoming parliamentary elections in May,” the Ambassador said.

He told Mediamax that he went to Hrazdan on the personal basis and talked to both parties, representatives of the Central Election Commission and some observers.

“I was pleased to see that the polling stations were in order. Both sides confirmed that the election procedures were being covered in an orderly and transparent way,” the U.S. official said.

Answering Mediamax’s question about Central Electoral Commission’s refusal  to authorize the U.S. Embassy employees to observe the Hrazdan elections, John Heffern said  that he is not too concerned about it. “The work will continue in May elections and during elections in 2013”.

“The international community is very interested in Armenia’s democracy and we are working with the Central Election Commission and the parties, civil society and press to make these elections free and fair,” said John Heffern.