PACE President aware of Zhirayr Sefilyan's arrest (video)
The Council of Europe cannot remain indifferent to ceasefire violations that result in casualties along the Line of Contact, says Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). “The Council of Europe is concerned about each casualty reported on the border,” she said in reply to A1+’s observation that PACE announces its support for the OSCE Minsk Group at the same time preparing a report about ‘occupied territories of Azerbaijan’ with a title unacceptable for Armenia. “PACE majority wanted to have a report with that title and they supported the rapporteur. The fact is that there has been an increase in violence, and we should do everything possible to help stop violence,” Anne Brasseur told A1+. The report on “Escalation of Violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and Other Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan” is being prepared by rapporteur [on Karabakh] Robert Walter. The Armenian delegation to PACE does not want to cooperate with the rapporteur as they consider the report to be ordered by Azerbaijan. Another topic Anne Brasseur discussed with Armenian officials is the planned constitutional reform. The PACE President says each country is free in its decision but they want it to be complaint with the PACE standards. She is also aware of the opposition’s stance on the constitutional amendments. The PACE President is also aware of the arrest of Zhirair Sefilyan, leader of the “Centennial without the regime” movement, and his friends. While Anne Brasseur refrained from expressing her opinion on the arrest, she stressed that freedom of speech is important: it entails responsibility within the framework of law. Only impartial investigation can show how far the “Centennial without the regime” movement intended to go, she stressed. Ms Anne Brasseur confesses that sometimes it has been difficult to continue discussions in Armenia, but she finds it positive. We cannot find solutions if we do not hear different opinions, she said. The PACE President also stressed Armenia's progress towards honoring its commitments and obligations since its accession to the Council of Europe, though she says the country has not yet signed the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. During her stay in Armenia, Anne Brasseur has talked to Armenian officials who promised to sign the document for ‘they do not want Armenia to be the last country to join the Convention.’ “Prevention of violence against women is important for Armenia's reputation,” said Anne Brasseur, Former President of the Association of Liberal Women of Luxembourg.
