PRESIDENT OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY H. ABRAHAMYAN PARTICIPATES IN THE WORKS OF THE SUMMER SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

National Assembly
June 26 2009
Armenia

On June 24 the working visit of President of the National Assembly
Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan to Strasbourg began. He had meetings with the
leaders of the Council of the Europe and with the leaders of political
forces presented in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE).

In the morning President of the National Assembly Mr. H. Abrahamyan met
Secretary of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe Mr. Gianni
Buquicchio.The head of the Armenian Parliament highly assessed the
role of the Venice Commission and its Secretary in complying the bills
being under discussion with European standards. In that context he
highlighted the role of CE Venice Commission for bringing to life the
amendments made in the Criminal Code. During the meeting the sides
agreed that Armenia had already made a great progress in complying
its legislation with the Europeans standards, and now the time had
come to correctly apply and implement this legislation.

Afterwards President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan met
CE Commissioner For Human Rights Mr. Thomas Hammarberg. The head of
the Parliament also expressed his gratitude to him for his support and
constructive criticism that he had shown to the Armenian issues. He
stressed that Armenia was a full and equal member of the Council of
Europe and it was obliged to implement diligently its obligations
within the framework of the Council of Europe. He also highlighted
the united efforts of all CE countries in keeping high rating and
not harming the reputation of the organization. During the talk the
sides also discussed the activities Ad-hoc Committee on the Events
Occurred on 1-2 March 2008.

In the morning of June 24, President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik
Abrahamyan had also meetings with head of the United European Lefts
group Mr. Tiny Kox and head of the European Democratic Party Luc Van
Den Brande in PACE. During the meetings the leader of the Armenian
Parliament presented to his interlocutors the details of the procedure
of declaring General Amnesty by the National Assembly. He stressed that
it was an effective outcome which was possible to reach due to friendly
and sincere support of our colleagues in PACE. At interlocutor’s
request Mr. Abrahamyan also touched upon the problems of the South
Caucasus region.

In the afternoon of June 24 the President of the National Assembly
also met PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig. During the discussion
the sides highly assessed the progress recorded recently in reaching
inner political agreement in Armenia. The interlocutors agreed that,
nevertheless, there were still a lot of to do. The Council of Europe,
its experts’ help and other instruments provided by that structure
would be an indispensable colleague of the Armenian people.

After the meeting with PACE President, Mr. Abrahamyan had a briefing
with the representatives of media.

In the second half of June 24 the President of the National Assembly
will meet with Chairman of European Liberals and Democrats Alliance
Group in PACE Mr. Matyas Eörsi , Chairperson of European Democratic
Group Mr. David Wilshire, President of the European Court of Human
Rights Mr. Jean-Paul Costa.

The same day at 6 p.m. by Strasbourg time, (at 9 p.m. by Yerevan time)
President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan will attend
PACE Session, during which the Armenian issue will be discussed. It is
scheduled that he will make a speech after voting the final discussion.