PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER: I THINK PRESIDENT WILL DECLARE AMNESTY AFTER TRIAL IN ‘THE CASE OF THE SEVEN’

ArmInfo
2008-12-26 15:05:00

ArmInfo. ‘I am sure that in 2009 the Armenian authorities will
settle the country’s problems by the combined efforts’, Parliamentary
Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan told media at the New Year reception in the
Parliament Friday.

Asked if the new speaker has managed to increase the role of the
Armenian National Assembly within the three months of his appointment,
H. Abrahamyan replied: ‘It is impossible to increase the role of the
parliament within few months or a year. It is a long process. In 2009
we intend to regularly visit Armenian regions to meet electors’. The
speaker mentioned that an analysis was carried out that revealed that
the initiator of 92% of the laws adopted by the parliament is the
government and only 7.5% were initiated by the parliament. ‘We should
do our best in order parliamentarians make legislative initiatives
more frequently. In addition, the speaker said that the Constitutional
Court recognized 21 laws contradicting to the Constitution. ‘However,
a special working group has already brought these laws in conformity
with the Constitution’, he said.

As regards PACE recommendations to Armenia, Abrahamyan said: ‘We
should do our best to fulfill CE requirements. It is in favor of our
country. If there are any requirements contradicting our interests,
we will not fulfill them.

As regards the possible amnesty by Armenian President to the defendants
under the ‘Case of the Seven’, Hovik Abrahamyan said: ‘Certainly,
it is my personal opinion, but I think the president will sign a
decree on amnesty after the trial in ‘the case of the seven", he said.