EDWARD SHARMAZANOV: DEMOCRATIC VALUES HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE IN ARMENIA
Karen Ghazaryan
"Radiolur"
22.12.2008 16:58
"The perspective of whether Armenia will be deprived of voting
right at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is
very dim," Spokesman for the Republican Party of Armenia, member of
the Republican faction Edward Sharmazanov told a press conference
today, speaking about the latest proposal of the PACE Monitoring
Committee. The Spokesman agrees that the proposal is not a favorable
one. However, according to him, the application of double standards is
also evident. "Generally, if the European partners want to see Armenia
more democratic, the application of sanctions is not the best way,"
Sharmazanov noted.
"Of course, there are problems. Problems arise in any state after
an attempt of a coup d’etat," the Spokesman noted, adding that these
problems have lessened during President Sargsyan’s tenure in office;
reforms have been implemented in different spheres.
According to Edward Sharmazanov, application of double standards
is noticeable in the suggestion of the Monitoring Committee, which
is not the best way for reinforcement of democracy. In any case,
irrespective of the developments, the authorities of the Republic
of Armenia will continue the reforms in the direction of democratic
development and there is one reason for that: "It’s a fact for us that
the=2 0democratic values should have no alternative in Armenia. I
hope that when PACE representatives arrive in Armenia in January,
they will see that serious work has been done. The fair probe into the
"Case of 7" can contribute to that."
According to Sharmazanov, Armenia respects the commitments it has
assumed before the Council of Europe. At the same time he added
that the amnesty is out of question until the courts announce the
final verdict.
"We need strong Armenia, and to have it we should put aside the
personal ambitions," Sharmazanov said