PACE HOLDS HOT DEBATE ON ARMENIA REPORT
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.04.2008 15:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Passions flared up on Armenia report in the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe yesterday, Kommersant
daily reports.
Presenting his report, UK representative John Prescott said
the presidential election in Armenia were mostly in line with the
European standards. However, lack of criticism aroused discontent of
some delegates.
Hungary’s Zsolt Nemeth reminded that the Armenian election was followed
by riots that claimed lives of 9 people. "The Council of Europe
legitimizes anti-democratic deeds of the Armenian authorities. If we
can’t change anything let’s stop sending observers.
We need fundamental assessment of monitoring missions," he said.
Sweden’s Marietta de Purbe-Lunden said the election results were
being marred before her eyes in one of polling stations.
Azerbaijan’s representative Samad Seyidov was even more
criticizing. "Mr Prescott says the election was held in line with the
CoE standards. Does it mean that murders are in line with European
standards? The whole world is closely watching the developments
in Tibet.
Why doesn’t anyone speak of lawlessness in Armenia?" he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Prescott and several other observers remarked that the
critics are too emotional and biased. No shocking violations were
fixed on the election day, they said.
The debate will be continued on Thursday. It means that majority of
the delegates do not agree with John Prescott’s mild assessments and
can question the authority of the Armenian delegation to PACE.