PRESCOTT AND COLOMBIER ARE CONCERNED

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[07:00 pm] 17 February, 2009

Armenian authorities should fully respect the principle of freedom
of Assembly, according to PACE rapporteurs

John Prescott and Georges Colombier, co-rapporteurs on Armenia ‘s
monitoring for the Parliamenatry Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), expressed their concern about the refusal of the authorities
to allow the Armenian National Congress (HAK) to organise a peaceful
rally in Central Yerevan on 1 March 2009.

They stressed that the Assembly has on several occasions called
upon the authorities to fully respect the principle of freedom of
assembly in Armenia and not to place undue restrictions, especially
with regard to the requested venues, upon peaceful rallies organised
by the opposition.

In their view , the possibility for all political forces to organise
peaceful rallies is an essential component of democracy and therefore
call upon the authorities to allow such peaceful rallies to take
place unimpeded in the requested venues.