Armenian speaker, European official discuss regional issues, democratic
reforms
Arminfo
15 Apr 05
YEREVAN
Armenia is fulfilling its commitments to the Council of Europe and
intends to complete all the legislative reforms this year, the speaker
of the Armenian National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, said at a
meeting with the chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe [PACE], Rene van der Linden.
During the meeting, Bagdasaryan pointed out that at present, electoral
and constitutional reforms concerning human rights, the court system,
local government, as well as the determination of balance in the
powers of the legislative, executive and judicial authorities, are
taking place in Armenia. Bagdasaryan also pointed out that Armenia is
in favour of regional cooperation with neighbouring countries. Moreover,
the Armenian parliament is in favour of transforming the South
Caucasus parliamentary initiative into a South Caucasus parliamentary
assembly.
Touching on Turkey’s membership of the EU, Bagdasaryan noted the
importance of deepening democratic reforms in all the countries of the
region, as well as integrating it into the European Union, recognizing
the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915, lifting the blockade
of Armenia and not using double standards.
The sides also discussed the issue of settling the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, which Armenia sees only in peaceful negotiations and
compromises.
In turn, Rene van der Linden noted the importance of fulfilling
commitments and promised to assist the development of interparliamentary
cooperation between the South Caucasus countries. The chairman of PACE
called for the process of reforms to be continued with the Venice
commission of PACE.
Touching on regional issues, Rene van der Linden described as
important the deepening of cooperation between the three countries of
the region and called for discussions about existing conflicts to be
continued.
The sides noted the importance of establishing a pact of peace and
stability in the Caucasus, which will help ensure regional security
and develop cooperation.
During the meeting, the sides also discussed issues of establishing
parliamentary relations between Armenia and Holland.