STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN HOPES THAT ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES WILL UNDERTAKE REAL STEPS IN RELEASING POLITICAL PRISONERS
Noyan Tapan
Jan 30, 2009
YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Resolution N 1643 adopted by
PACE on January 27 is neither opposition’s failure nor authorities’
victory. Stepan Demirchian, the Chairman of the People’s Party of
Armenia, reported at the January 30 press conference adding that
the opposition did not wish Armenia’s delegation to be deprived of
the vote. According to him, with that resolution additional time
was given to the Armenian authorities for fulfilling the PACE
demands. S. Demirchian hopes that the Armenian authorities will
undertake real steps in this direction and the political prisoners will
be released by April. "The Armenian authorities have promised to solve
that issue by amending Criminal Code’s respective articles," he said.
Meanwhile the PPA Chairman did not exclude that the authorities will
not fulfill the PACE demands this time, either. According to him,
the Armenian authorities should realize that the issue has not been
solved and the crisis has not been overcome by RA delegation’s not
being deprived of the vote.
S. Demirchian said that the opposition using all legal means will
pursue solution of all issues raised by it, including releasing the
political prisoners, carrying out an objective investigation of the
March 1 events.
Touching upon the Yerevan Mayor’s coming elections, S. Demirchian
said that the opposition has not discussed that issue yet. However
he considers that the opposition should unite its forces and take
part in those elections.