NEW REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECRETARY GENERAL IN ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily
12/09/2008

Armenia – Council of Europe

Director General of Political Affairs and Cooperation of the Council
of Europe Claudia Luciani presented the newly appointed Special
Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General Silvia Zahe
to RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian.

The sides touched upon Armenian-Turkish relations. According to Tigran
Torosian, opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will take a long time,
as the Turkish side is not really ready for that step. It is not only
the problem of the Turkish side but also – the European structures,
mainly, there is no point in any PACE resolution on Turkey that urges
to open a border between two CE member countries.

NA Speaker also touched upon the draft law on "Implementing Amendments
to RA Law on Television and Radio" that according to Luciani was
passed very hastily without European examination.

According to the CE official, it was a step back from implementation
of the PACE resolutions that means RA Government and National Assembly
do not accept the proposals of PACE seriously.

Claudia Luciani expressed concern over the process of the recent
elections of self-governing bodies.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress