John Prescott Calls On Parties In Armenia To Show Following Talks

JOHN PRESCOTT CALLS ON PARTIES IN ARMENIA TO SHOW FOLLOWING TALKS

arminfo
2008-03-11 11:21:00

ArmInfo. John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC), rapporteur for the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the Armenian
elections, has called upon all sides to show restraint, respect and
avoid any precipitate action that could make matters worse, following
two days of meetings with all relevant parties in Yerevan. As the
Council of Europe told ArmInfo, John Prescott said: "This is essential
if we are to move to a genuine and open dialogue". "I am convinced that
a solution can be found to the present difficulties. This requires the
recognition by all of the authority of the Constitutional Court and its
ruling on the outcome of the Presidential election. It also requires
the removal of the state of emergency and the restoration of individual
human rights and freedoms, including political rights, as well as the
establishment of an independent inquiry into the circumstances of the
events of 1 March that tragically led to the death of 8 individuals
and left many injured. In addition it will also be necessary to make
changes to Armenia’s election code in order to restore trust in the
electoral system. Next week I intend to communicate to the President
of the Parliamentary Assembly in greater detail how the Assembly could
play an effective role in securing the resolution of this conflict,"
Mr Prescott added. He pledged that the Assembly will do all it can
to help resolve the ongoing dispute following the recent Presidential
election in Armenia.