IF ARMENIA NOT FULFILS COUNCIL OF EUROPE’S RECOMMENDATIONS, IT WILL BE DEPRIVED OF VOTING RIGHT IN PACE: FRENCH MP
Trend News Agency
April 17 2008
Azerbaijan
France, Strasburg, 17 April /corr. TrendNews A.Maherremli, I.Alizadeh
/ If the Government of Armenia does not free the representatives of
opposition who were arrested after presidential elections and does
not fulfill obligations undertaken before the Council of Europe, the
country’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) may be deprived of voting right.
"If Armenia does not implement the requirements and recommendations of
the Council of Europe and does not demonstrate certain advancements,
during June session of the PACE the Monitoring Committee will consider
the issue of freezing the voting right of the country. Trust in Armenia
as Council of Europe member-country is under doubts," French MP Jorge
Jolombe said during extraordinary discussions in PACE session regarding
presidential elections in Armenia.
The report 11579 ‘Activity of international institutions in Armenia’
reflecting the events which took place in Armenia after presidential
elections was devised by French MP Jorge Jolombe and British MP
Jon Prescott.
The British MP said that it needs to come to a consensus in the
issue of freezing the voting right of Armenia in PACE, and therefore,
extraordinary discussions should be held at PACE. "Today there is not
trust in democratic institutions in Armenia. Today we should well study
those which take place in Armenia. It needs to hold special studies
to clarify the situation. Holding such studies may strengthen trust
in democratic institutions. The Council of Europe and generally the
international community may help the studies at the level of special
monitoring," Prescott added.
He said that if the situation continues in this form, it will
bring serious harms to Armenia’s image as a member of the Council
of Europe. "Our recommendations to Armenia are that if it does not
positively react to our suggestions, we will highlight them until
the next session," Prescott said.
After making several changes and additions of recommendation character,
the Resolution was adopted with 93 votes.
On 19 Feb, presidential elections were held in Armenia. The Central
Election Commission said that Serj Sarkisyan, the former premier and
a candidate from the government won the elections by gaining 52.2%
of votes. The supporters of former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, a
key candidate from the opposition, did not accept the election outcome
and staged uninterrupted demonstrations. The peaceful demonstrations
were dispersed by the law enforcement agencies at night from 1 to
2 March resulting in death of 9 people and hundreds of people being
wounded and arrested.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
