TIGRAN SARGSYAN MET WITH PACE CHAIRMAN
RIA Oreanda
July 24 2008
Russia
Yerevan. ">OREANDA-NEWS . July 24, 2008. RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan met with PACE Chairman Luis Maria de Puig. The parties have
referred to the implementation of those recommendations contained in
PACE Resolution 1609 on the functioning of democratic institutions
in Armenia and in the follow-up PACE Resolution 1620.
At the outset of the meeting, the PACE Chairman stressed that
no one in the Council of Europe wishes to see Armenia found in a
difficult situation. Thereby, like the Council of Europe Human Rights
Commissioner, he has come to encourage and prop up the country ahead
on the way to implementing the foregoing PACE resolutions and getting
back to normalcy.
Luis Maria de Puig focused in particular on the need for exposing
the whole truth about the March 1-2 events. In this context, he spoke
of the ongoing activities of the National Assembly ad hoc commission
and the recent proposal voiced by the Council of Europe Human Rights
Commissioner concerning the establishment of an independent task force
to that effect. He also touched upon a variety of issues relating to
those oppositionists detained as a result of said events, the terms
of reference of the National Radio and TV Regulatory Commission,
the possibilities for ensuring full media freedom and broader powers
for the opposition in the country.
With reference to PACE Resolution 1609, Luis Maria de Puig said to be
pleased at the allowance made of the benchmarks set by the Council of
Europe in amending the RA law on holding meetings, rallies, marches
and demonstrations.
Regarding the problem of detained persons, the PACE Chairman noted
that the Council of Europe cannot tolerate the availability of
political prisoners in a member State: "This is unacceptable to the
Council of Europe. I do not mean the ones having committed criminal
offences. Distinction has to be made between the acts of violence and
political activities. The authorities should set free those detained
on political considerations rather than on criminal charges," Luis
Maria de Puig has said.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan thanked the PACE Chairman for his
sincere desire to back Armenia and expressed conviction that the
PACE mission will help solve many problems. He indicated that the
authorities bear greater responsibility for these challenges and,
well aware thereof, they have come up with a number of clear-cut
initiatives. The Prime Minister mentioned in particular the broad-based
cooperation framework established between the government, on the
one hand, and civil society organizations and the opposition, on
the other. In this context, he said to have sent open invitations to
opposition representatives on different occasions for participation
in the design of the new anti-corruption strategy and subsequent
involvement in monitoring action. According to the Prime Minister,
oppositionists are invited to attend government sessions and cabinet
discussions held on issues of public concern. "We will not give up
the initiative of bridging over the divide, and should the opposition
take advantage of it, the situation will change in the country,"
the Prime Minister said.
Concerning those under probe, Tigran Sargsyan assured that here,
too, the authorities are fully cognizant of the seriousness of
the task. Every one in the government realizes that any political
motivation whatsoever behind the trials is very dangerous to the
country. Therefore, everything is being done to keep the process
within the bounds of law.
The interlocutors have also referred to the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. The Prime Minister availed himself of the
opportunity to express concern over the fact that at its June
session the Council of Europe adopted a declaration stating that
democratic development in Azerbaijan should go hand-in-hand with
the restoration of its territorial integrity. Such a wording was
assessed to be too dangerous by the RA Prime Minister who said it was
in sharp contrast with basic European values and approaches and might
undermine the ongoing peace process. Tigran Sargsyan pointed out that
the principles of territorial integrity and self-determination are
given an equal footing in international law, and saying that failure
in the reinstatement of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity would be
an obstacle to democratic development in that country constitutes a
backdrop from the PACE values. OREANDA-NEWS. July 24, 2008. RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan met with PACE Chairman Luis Maria de Puig. The
parties have referred to the implementation of those recommendations
contained in PACE Resolution 1609 on the functioning of democratic
institutions in Armenia and in the follow-up PACE Resolution 1620.
At the outset of the meeting, the PACE Chairman stressed that
no one in the Council of Europe wishes to see Armenia found in a
difficult situation. Thereby, like the Council of Europe Human Rights
Commissioner, he has come to encourage and prop up the country ahead
on the way to implementing the foregoing PACE resolutions and getting
back to normalcy.
Luis Maria de Puig focused in particular on the need for exposing
the whole truth about the March 1-2 events. In this context, he spoke
of the ongoing activities of the National Assembly ad hoc commission
and the recent proposal voiced by the Council of Europe Human Rights
Commissioner concerning the establishment of an independent task force
to that effect. He also touched upon a variety of issues relating to
those oppositionists detained as a result of said events, the terms
of reference of the National Radio and TV Regulatory Commission,
the possibilities for ensuring full media freedom and broader powers
for the opposition in the country.
With reference to PACE Resolution 1609, Luis Maria de Puig said to be
pleased at the allowance made of the benchmarks set by the Council of
Europe in amending the RA law on holding meetings, rallies, marches
and demonstrations.
Regarding the problem of detained persons, the PACE Chairman noted
that the Council of Europe cannot tolerate the availability of
political prisoners in a member State: "This is unacceptable to the
Council of Europe. I do not mean the ones having committed criminal
offences. Distinction has to be made between the acts of violence and
political activities. The authorities should set free those detained
on political considerations rather than on criminal charges," Luis
Maria de Puig has said.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan thanked the PACE Chairman for his
sincere desire to back Armenia and expressed conviction that the
PACE mission will help solve many problems. He indicated that the
authorities bear greater responsibility for these challenges and,
well aware thereof, they have come up with a number of clear-cut
initiatives. The Prime Minister mentioned in particular the broad-based
cooperation framework established between the government, on the
one hand, and civil society organizations and the opposition, on
the other. In this context, he said to have sent open invitations to
opposition representatives on different occasions for participation
in the design of the new anti-corruption strategy and subsequent
involvement in monitoring action. According to the Prime Minister,
oppositionists are invited to attend government sessions and cabinet
discussions held on issues of public concern. "We will not give up
the initiative of bridging over the divide, and should the opposition
take advantage of it, the situation will change in the country,"
the Prime Minister said.
Concerning those under probe, Tigran Sargsyan assured that here,
too, the authorities are fully cognizant of the seriousness of
the task. Every one in the government realizes that any political
motivation whatsoever behind the trials is very dangerous to the
country. Therefore, everything is being done to keep the process
within the bounds of law.
The interlocutors have also referred to the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. The Prime Minister availed himself of the
opportunity to express concern over the fact that at its June
session the Council of Europe adopted a declaration stating that
democratic development in Azerbaijan should go hand-in-hand with
the restoration of its territorial integrity. Such a wording was
assessed to be too dangerous by the RA Prime Minister who said it was
in sharp contrast with basic European values and approaches and might
undermine the ongoing peace process. Tigran Sargsyan pointed out that
the principles of territorial integrity and self-determination are
given an equal footing in international law, and saying that failure
in the reinstatement of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity would be
an obstacle to democratic development in that country constitutes a
backdrop from the PACE values.