ONLY OPPOSITION MEMBER QUITS ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PACE

Interfax News Agency
June 26, 2008
Russia

The only opposition member in the Armenian delegation to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), head of
the Heritage parliament group Raffi Ovannisian has refused to take
part in Assembly meetings until Armenia meets European standards,
the Armenian media said on Thursday.

The media said Ovannisian made a statement to that effect on Wednesday,
when the Assembly was discussing a resolution on Armenia.

"Obviously, this is a political step. Our delegation will keep working
though," head of the Armenian delegation to PACE David Arutyunian said.

"Each delegation member, including Ovannisian, has a backup," he said.