Regnum, Russia –
June 30 2006

Gross refuses to be co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan

PACE Monitoring Committee had a meeting on June 29, reports AzTV.
While speaking at the meeting Andreas Gross refused to be
co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan any longer because `he has worked in this
sphere for a long time and now wants to be co-rapporteur in some
other country.’

The committee has met his request and has relieved him of his duties.
The Swiss MP will be replaced by British MP Tony Lloyd.

The head of the Armenian delegation, the Armenian parliament speaker
Tigran Torossyan says that during his speech he tried to present
Gross’ refusal to continue his duties as co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan
as the result of that country’s pressure on him. However, the
Azerbaijani delegation said that Gross’ decision was voluntary, and
Azerbaijan exerted no pressure on him.

Still, we would like to note that Gross has been co-rapporteur on
Azerbaijan for ten years already and has actually had controversial
relations with that country’s authorities.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress