ARMENIAN LEADER, PACE CHIEF DISCUSS DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

Arminfo News Agency
July 25 2008
Armenia

The fulfilment of proposals listed in PACE resolutions No 1609 and 1620
by Armenia stems not from compulsion, but from internal conviction,
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at a meeting with the president
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE], Lluis
Maria de Puig, today.

The two men discussed the pace of implementation of the reforms
proposed by PACE resolutions No 1609 and 1620. Sargsyan noted Armenia’s
determination in the implementation of provisions put forward in
the PACE resolutions. He said that these provisions have also been
reflected in the Armenian president’s pre-election manifesto and in
the memorandum signed by the four members of the political coalition.

"The fulfilment of these provisions does not stem from results of
pressure, but from internal conviction," Sargsyan said. He added:
"I am deeply convinced that Armenia has no other way apart from a
consistent movement on the path of democracy".

The PACE president said that the goal of his visit [to Armenia] is to
speed up the implementation of the PACE resolutions. He pointed out
that certain progress in this regard has already been made and this is
welcome. He added that both the Armenian authorities and opposition
bear responsibility for country’s future. The PACE president noted
that the Council of Europe respectably refers to the Armenian people’s
choice and called on the opposition to recognize the results of the
election which has been reflected in the PACE resolution too.