Armenian Government Capable of Solving System Problems: CE
20.05.2008,
19:51
Armenian government is ready to solve problems in the country’s system and fill in the existing gaps, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said during her meeting with RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian.
YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Armenian government is ready to solve problems in the country’s system and fill in the existing gaps, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said during her meeting with RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian.
The Deputy Secretary General also met high-ranking Armenian officials on Monday in Yerevan to discuss the implementation of PACE Resolution 1609, as well as recommendations of the CE Commissioner of Human Rights and Ago Group’s report on Armenia. She pointed out that the June session of PACE is not far off. De Boer-Buquicchio called in Armenian authorities to use effectively the short period before the session.
Adopted this April, PACE Resolution 1609 on democratic institutions in Armenia urges the country’s authorities to strengthen democratic institutes by the summer session of the RA Parliament. Otherwise, Armenia will be deprived of its right to vote in the Assembly.
The authors of the resolution, John Prescott and Georges Colombier, call on Armenia’s authorities to step up their efforts to implement political reforms, taking the opposition’s opinion into account. They also urge Armenia to reform the electoral system and ensure independence of mass media, as well as to guarantee the freedom of assembly both by law and in practice.
De Boer-Buquicchio said opposition should also be constructive without making harsh demands.
According to her, the Council of Europe is ready to help Armenian authorities to combat corruption, reforms the country’s legislation and other fields to achieve good results by June.
In his turn, the Prime Minister assured the Deputy Secretary General the Armenian Government is as good as its word. He said Armenia intends to solve all the problems as soon as possible. However, the Prime Minister was sceptical about significant changes in society within a month.
He stressed the importance of building up public confidence in democratic principles and norms.
He said the Armenian Government has the willpower to achieve all these goals and intends to carry out reforms to develop cooperation between the strong government and strong opposition, responsible media and responsible government.
The country also plans to curb price rise, according to Sargsian.
He assured the European official that the RA Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy will become more effective if the country is able to settle the existing social issues and reduce political tension. –0--
The Deputy Secretary General also met high-ranking Armenian officials on Monday in Yerevan to discuss the implementation of PACE Resolution 1609, as well as recommendations of the CE Commissioner of Human Rights and Ago Group’s report on Armenia. She pointed out that the June session of PACE is not far off. De Boer-Buquicchio called in Armenian authorities to use effectively the short period before the session.
Adopted this April, PACE Resolution 1609 on democratic institutions in Armenia urges the country’s authorities to strengthen democratic institutes by the summer session of the RA Parliament. Otherwise, Armenia will be deprived of its right to vote in the Assembly.
The authors of the resolution, John Prescott and Georges Colombier, call on Armenia’s authorities to step up their efforts to implement political reforms, taking the opposition’s opinion into account. They also urge Armenia to reform the electoral system and ensure independence of mass media, as well as to guarantee the freedom of assembly both by law and in practice.
De Boer-Buquicchio said opposition should also be constructive without making harsh demands.
According to her, the Council of Europe is ready to help Armenian authorities to combat corruption, reforms the country’s legislation and other fields to achieve good results by June.
In his turn, the Prime Minister assured the Deputy Secretary General the Armenian Government is as good as its word. He said Armenia intends to solve all the problems as soon as possible. However, the Prime Minister was sceptical about significant changes in society within a month.
He stressed the importance of building up public confidence in democratic principles and norms.
He said the Armenian Government has the willpower to achieve all these goals and intends to carry out reforms to develop cooperation between the strong government and strong opposition, responsible media and responsible government.
The country also plans to curb price rise, according to Sargsian.
He assured the European official that the RA Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy will become more effective if the country is able to settle the existing social issues and reduce political tension. –0--
