ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS WITH TERRY DAVIS AND MARIOS GAROYAN

ARMENPRESS
May 22, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS: Armenian parliament Speaker Tigran
Torosian who is in Strasbourg to take part in the meeting of Council
of Europe member countries’ parliament heads, met today with Council
of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis.

The parliament press service told Armenpress that in a reference
to March 1 events in Yerevan Torosian said they shocked all. He
said Armenia saw numerous rallies since 1988 but not had such an
outcome. He said the tragic events on that day could not stem from
people’s social discontent, because their living standards have been
improving during the recent years and in January of this year the
pensions rose 60 percent and other salaries and wages also rose.

According to him, the assertions that police used force against
demonstrators is simplified. He said video materials show that there
were people among demonstrators armed with Molotov cocktails and metal
rods, who used grenades and plundered shops which are one kilometer
away from the demonstration’s scene.

He also spoke about a parliament ad hoc commission, set up in line
with PACE 1609 resolution which is to look into this and other issues
and give answers. He told Terry Davis that the parliament set up a
task force to study and offer proposals for improvement of electoral
processes and the law on Public TV and Radio so that the order of
electing members of the National Radio and TV Commission be fixed
by law.

He also said the parliament passed in the first reading a package
of changes to the law on mass gatherings which was approved by the
Venice Commission. The second reading will be in June and the law
will be made to comply fully with European standards.

In a reference to arrested people he said each case is being
examined carefully and the approach is that anyone who committed a
grave criminal offence must be held accountable and no one must be
persecuted for their political views.

Terry Davis welcomed creation of a parliament commission for making
inquiries into March 1 events.

He agreed that everyone who committed grave crimes must be punished
and no one must be persecuted for his or her political views.

Tigran Torosian also met with Marios Garoyan, the president of the
Cyprus parliament. Torosian express hope that relations between the
two countries and their parliaments will grow further.

Torosian said Cyprus’s experience in joining the EU is of cognitive
significance, especially that European integration is a priority of
Armenian foreign policy.

Marios Garoyan expressed hope that relations between Armenia and
his country and the constructive dialogue will deepen. Recalling his
Armenian origin he said it will be a factor to promote closer ties
with Armenia. The parliament press service said they discussed also
other issues of mutual interest.