Pace co-rapporteurs to visit Armenia to assess implementation of PACE resolution 1609

YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) George Colombier and John Prescott are to visit Armenia on 16 and 17 June, in order to assess the implementation of PACE Resolution 1609 (2008) on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia.

CE information office reports that the PACE co-rappourteurs will meet with Armenian President Serge Sargsian, Speaker of Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosian, representatives of coalition and opposition parties, extra-parliamentary opposition, including Levon Ter-Petrosian, the presidential working group for coordination of implementation of PACE resolution 1609, the parliamentary working group on the electoral code reform, defence lawyers of detained opposition activists and representatives of NGOs.

If, at the end of their visit, the co-rapporteurs conclude that insufficient progress has been made, the Assembly may hold a debate under urgent procedure on 25 June, at its summer session, on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia, says the report.

The PACE resolution 1609 was passed on April 17 in relation to the complicated internal political situation in Armenia where uninterrupted protest actions held against the results of the presidential elections developed into mass disorders on March 1-2.

The resolution recommends conducting an independent investigation of the March 1-2 events before the PACE summer session, establishing political dialogue and strengthening democratic institutions in the country. Otherwise Armenia may be stripped of the vote in PACE. N.V. –0--