ARMENIA MAY QUIT EUROPEAN FAMILY
A1+
23 July, 2008
"It is not excluded that Armenia might be left out of the European
family," the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE), Luis Maria de Puig, said during a meeting with the
Zharangutiun (Heritage) Party on July 23.
Today Mr. Puig met with representatives of the NA leading parties
and opposition. The parliamentarian majority mostly dwelt on the
Chairman’s statement made in Baku.
Note, Azeri mass media had distorted the Chairman’s words. Luis Maria
de Puig stressed that the CoE accepts the territorial wholeness of its
member states. The CoE also accepts the principle to self-governance
within the realms of law. The Azeri media had omitted the last part
of the statement.
Secretary of the Zharangutiun Party, Stepan Safarian, confirmed
Puig’s words. Safarian says during the meeting with the PACE Chairman
the Zharangutiun criticized PACE Resolution 1620 which obviously
empowers the Armenian authorities to continue their anti-democratic
policy. Particularly, the PACE welcomed the amendments to the RoA
Law on "Meetings, Assemblies, Marches and Demonstrations" thus giving
the authorities another chance to bar rallies on the grounds of false
data submitted by the Police and the National Security Service.
The opposition asked Mr. Puig why the perpetrators of mass disorders
are not persecuted if the police provide reliable information.
"The Zharangutiun has always highlighted Armenia’s integration into the
European family. But today we are at a loss as the Council of Europe
sets incomprehensible and unacceptable criteria in Armenia-Europe
relations, especially in view of national security, democracy, etc,"
said Stepan Safarian.
Luis Maria de Puig was concerned about Zharangutiun’s opinion towards
the CoE.
He says they will be consistent and most likely Armenia will be the
only CoE member to quit the European family.
Anahit Bakhshian said they don’t wish Armenia to be left out of the
European family. They want Armenia to stick to European standards
and principles.
The PACE Chairman says he has arrived in Armenia to follow the
implementation of the PACE Resolution and to demand an urgent release
for people detained during the post-election period.
During the meeting the Zharangutiun members also raised the issue of
freedom of expression. They demanded implementation of the EC decision
and A1+’s return to the air.
Stepan Safarian says the meeting was fruitful and he noticed resolution
on the part of Luis Maria de Puig.
Luis Maria de Puig has also met with the NA ad hoc Committee
investigating the March 1 occurrences.