THE DANGER OF SUSPENDING ARMENIA’S VOTING RIGHT AT PACE HAS LESSENED
Shakeh Avoyan

"Radiolur"
27.01.2009 11:25
Strasbourg

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will start
discussing the issue on Armenia at 1 p.m. Yerevan time. At 3 p.m. the
decision will be announced. It should be noted, however, that, in
general, it became clear after yesterday’s sitting of the Monitoring
Committee that the danger of suspending the voting right of the
Armenian delegation has lessened.

Secondly, the Assembly will, most probably return to the issue during
its April session.

The Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe made six changes in
the draft resolution, expelling the point on depriving the Armenian
delegation of the right to vote.

Member of the Armenian delegation Armen Rustamyan told "Radiolur"
that co-rapporteurs Prescott and Colombier made the changes on the
basis of their visit to Armenia.

"They lay the main emphasis on the situation established in Armenia
after December 17. The main reason that served as a basis for applying
sanctions was the lack of political will among the authorities. This
has changed," he said.

Armen Rustamyan stressed that two facts served as bases for such
statement: first, the number of amnesties has increased (28 people
have already been granted presidential pardon), secondly, the process
of amendment of Articles 225 and 300 of the Criminal Code of Armenia
has started.

Asked whether this is enough ground to hope that Armenia will not
be deprived of the voting right at today’s plenary session, the head
of the Armenian delegation to PACE David Harutyunyan said: "I prefer
not to make untimely statements. In this case the proposal was made
by the co-rapporteurs, and the Monitoring Committee supported the
approach. What will be the result of the voting? Voting will show."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress