Armenian authorities must continue democratic reforms irrespective of pace decision

YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. The Armenian authorities led by President Serge Sargsyan must continue economic, political and democratic reforms irrespective of a decision to be made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). If Armenia is deprived of its vote at the Council of Europe, it will have its consequences through not too serious ones, Eduard Sharmazanov, Press Secretary of the Republican party of Armenia (RPA), told reporters at the international press center Novosti. On December 17 the PACE Monitoring Committee proposed suspending the Armenian delegation’s vote in connection with the investigation of the March 1-2 events in Yerevan. Sharmazanov pointed out that the RPA’s major task is to implement programs in conformity with its election pledges. “Democratic values have no alternative for us. We remain committed to this position not to our European partners’ delight. We are well aware that it is only the reforms that can improve the people’s living conditions,” he said. Speaking of the work already done by the authorities to meet PACE-set requirements, Sharmazanov stressed that President Serge Sargsyan has created “a quite positive” political situation in Armenia. “Not only local experts, but also our foreign partners, have talked about it. Condoleezza Rice said that Armenia was progressing in political reforms,” he said. Sharmazanov pointed out further serious reforms in Armenia’s police, justice, taxation and customs systems. –0--