PACE CHAIRWOMAN’S VISIT TO ARMENIA EXPECTED ON JULY 14

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 2

PACE Chairwoman Luis Maria de Puig, in all probability, will arrive
in Yerevan on July 14. The goal of the visit is to present PACE’s
decision regarding the current developments in Armenia and PACE
Resolutions N 1609 and 1620. David Haroutiunian, the head of the
Armenian delegation in PACE, the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee
for State and Legal Issues, reported at the July 2 press conference.

The delegation head touched upon discussion of the process of
fulfilment of Resolution N 1609 On Activity of Democratic Institutions
in Armenia and adoption of Resolution N 1620 proceeding from it at
the PACE June session.

It was mentioned that postponing the discussion of the possibility
of suspending Armenian delegation’s right of vote until the opening
day of PACE 2009 January session does not mean at all that Armenia
has been given time until January for fulfilment of all provisions
of the Resolution.

According to D. Haroutiunian, "Resolution N 1620 has not come to
replace Resolution N 1609, and the two resolutions’ requirements
continue operating." Besides, the Council of Europe Commissioner
for Human Rights, at the September 11 sitting of PACE Monitoring
Commission, will present a report on criminal prosecutions in Armenia,
the process of releasing imprisoned people, as well as on activity
of the NA ad hoc commission on study of the March 1-2 events and
their reasons. Proceeding from it, the Monitoring Commission can
make the respective decision, including, it is not excluded,
on holding discussion of the issue regarding Armenia earlier,
during the 2008 October session. According to D. Haroutiunian, such
possible developments will be greatly conditioned by Commissioner’s
evaluation "whether Armenia keeps the proper rate of fulfilment of
PACE requirements."