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Russian observers consider Syrian presidential elections successful

"It’s impossible to call the voting perfect from the point of view of democracy but taking into account the situation in Syria, we can say that the elections were a success," an observer said

MOSCOW, June 07 /ITAR-TASS/. Russian observers at Syria’s presidential elections will make an assessment report about the elections but consider the voting successful, a member of the Russian Central Election Commission told a news conference on Friday.

“We are making an assessment report,” Anton Lopatin said. “We will describe the election procedure in the document. Of course, it’s impossible to call the voting perfect from the point of view of democracy but taking into account the situation in Syria, we can say that the elections were a success.”

Speaking about his impressions of the trip to Syria, Lopatin said that every Syrian could vote at any polling station he had chosen.

“There was only one constituency but the number of polling stations totalled 9,601,” Lopatin said. “Representatives of all the presidential candidates were present at each polling station and they confirmed later a high turnout.”

Lopatin said that “the Russian delegation did not make any criticising remarks about the course of the election campaign.”

Observers representing 15 countries, including the United States and Canada, monitored the elections. “The American as well as the Canadian observers made no criticising remarks, either,” he said.

A member of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, Igor Morozov, said that Syrians lined up for voting since early Tuesday morning.

“The population is so exhausted by the war, by being separated with their loved ones that the people are ready to do everything possible to choose a leader who will end the manslaughter, the civil war and will unite the nation,” the lawmaker said. “That was the mindset the Syrians were going to the polling stations with.”

Morozov underscored that the voting "carousels" the U.S. spoke about were impossible at the elections in Syria. “The voting was transparent, tolerant and on a democratic basis and the turnout was very high,” he said. “We recognise the elections as legitimate and conducted in compliance with all international standards.”

Morozov said Syria’s presidential elections sent a crucial signal to the world community to change its attitude to the Syrian conflict.

“[President] Bashar Assad is ready for dialogue on an international level and it is beyond doubt that the Geneva-3 new format should be on the table,” he said.

Assad overwhelmingly won the Syrian presidential election with over 88% of the votes.

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