IN CASE OF NOT FULFILLING PACE’S PRECONDITIONS ARMENIAN DELEGATION CAN BE DEPRIVED OF RIGHT OF VOTE
Noyan Tapan
April 17, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 17 plenary sitting PACE
with 93 votes for, 8 against and 8 abstained adopted a resolution on
the state of Armenia’s democratic institutions. According to Radio
Liberty, the document’s preface mentions that the main reasons of
crisis of post-electoral period in Armenia are that the pivotal
institutions of the state, including the parliament and courts, do
not fulfil their functions completely in line with the democratic
standards and principles of supremacy of law and human rights.
By the adopted document the Council of Europe proposes Armenia
undertaking a number of steps aimed at overcoming the crisis,
initiating an open and constructive dialogue among all political
forces of Armenia, holding an independent, transparent, and trustworthy
investigation of March 1 events, immediately releasing the people, who
have been arrested for artificial reasons having a political ground,
reconsidering the amendment made to the law On Holding Rallies,
Processions and Demonstrations. In case of not fulfilling these
preconditions confidence to Armenia as a country-member of Council
of Europe will be questioned and the issue of depriving the Armenian
delegation of the right of vote will be discussed in PACE during the
opening of the session in June this year.