Arminfo
2007-02-17 13:56:00

STEPAN DEMIRCHYAN: COOPERATION OF ARMENIA WITH EUROPEAN BODIES
SHOULDN’T BE JUST DECLARATORY

"Stressing the importance of realization of Armenia’s obligations of
the Council of Europe (COE), People’s Party of Armenia (PPA) speaks
for the state’s not just formal cooperation with European
institutions," Stepan Demirchyan, head of PPA, said at the 6th session
of the party today.

He added that presently Armenia is among the few COE member-states
where elections are rigged. "The January resolution of Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) says that since Armenia
joined COE there have been no fare and free elections in the country
yet. The corner stone of a democratic society is – establishment of
authorities by demonstration of people’s free will. In Armenia, there
is a definite set back in this regard. It is impossible to hold
democratic reforms using non-democratic methods. The rigged
constitutional referendum discredits the very idea of integration into
Europe," S. Demirchyan declared.

He pointed out that the present parliamentary elections would show
whether the criminal governing system would continue in future or
effective solution would be found to solve Armenia’s problems.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress