PACE CO-RAPPORTEURS TO VISIT ARMENIA TO ASSESS IMPLEMENTATION OF PACE RESOLUTION 1609
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ARKA
June 12

Co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) George Colombier and John Prescott are to visit Armenia on 16
and 17 June, in order to assess the implementation of PACE Resolution
1609 (2008) on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia.

CE information office reports that the PACE co-rappourteurs will meet
with Armenian President Serge Sargsian, Speaker of Armenian Parliament
Tigran Torosian, representatives of coalition and opposition parties,
extra-parliamentary opposition, including Levon Ter-Petrosian, the
presidential working group for coordination of implementation of PACE
resolution 1609, the parliamentary working group on the electoral
code reform, defence lawyers of detained opposition activists and
representatives of NGOs.

If, at the end of their visit, the co-rapporteurs conclude that
insufficient progress has been made, the Assembly may hold a debate
under urgent procedure on 25 June, at its summer session, on the
functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia, says the report.

The PACE resolution 1609 was passed on April 17 in relation to the
complicated internal political situation in Armenia where uninterrupted
protest actions held against the results of the presidential elections
developed into mass disorders on March 1-2.

The resolution recommends conducting an independent investigation of
the March 1-2 events before the PACE summer session, establishing
political dialogue and strengthening democratic institutions in
the country. Otherwise Armenia may be stripped of the vote in
PACE. N.V.