FATE OF ARMENIA TO BE DECIDED ON JANUARY 23

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[03:25 pm] 18 January, 2007

The PACE winter sitting scheduled on January 22 – 26, 2007, will be
of great importance for Armenia. As they say it is time "to count the
chickens". On January 23, a report will be made on the commitments
of Armenia.

Tigran Torosyan, head of the Armenian delegation in the PACE,
has already made an announcement underlining the fact that the
resolution is unprecedented for Armenia and it has positive provisions;
"Great importance is attached to the constitutional amendments which,
according to the draft resolution, has allowed to have a constitution
in Armenia meeting all the European criteria".

There are other positive steps as well, among them the elimination
of administrative custody, the right of citizens to apply to the
Constitutional Court. At the same time, the 2007 elections are
highlighted.

Mr. Torosyan has noticed only the positive sides of the resolution
whereas Azeri agency APA assures that Armenian has not carried out
most of the commitments and the country will soon encounter serious
problems.

The reporters say, "The most disappointing is the fact that since
2001, when Armenia integrated into CoE, none of the election held in
the country have been free, fair and transparent". The PACE reporters
focused on the activities of the RA Police Forces, National Security
Service, Tax and Customs departments, as well as corruption, which
has become a deeply-rooted phenomenon in Armenia. In the end they
voiced hope that the 2007 elections will greatly differ from the
previous ones with the high level of freedom and justice.