EDUARD SHARMAZANOV: DECISION NOT TO SUSPEND ARMENIA’S VOTING RIGHTS IN PACE IS A VICTORY OF REPUBLIC’S DEMOCRATIC FUTURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2009 14:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe has adopted Resolution 1643 which states clearly that Armenian
delegation’s voting rights will not be suspended and sanctions against
Armenia will not be applied.

"It’s important that the term ‘political prisoners’ is not used
in the document," Eduard Sharmazanov, a member of parliament and
spokesman for the Republican Party of Armenia, told a news conference
in Yerevan today.

"The decision bases on the reforms carried out in Armenia and on
demonstration of political will by the republic’s leadership."

According to Sharmazanov, the court will decide whether there are
political prisoners in Armenia or not. "In a democratic country,
any legal issue is considered by the court," he said.

"The decision not to suspend Armenia’s voting rights in PACE is a
victory of the republic’s democratic future. But we have to do a great
deal of work to hold more democratic elections in future," he said.

On January 27, with 3 votes ‘for’, 141 ‘against’ and 5 abstentions,
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has decided not
to suspend Armenia’s voting rights.