ARMENIA MAY QUIT EUROPEAN FAMILY

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“It is not excluded that Armenia might be left out of the European family,” the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Luis Maria de Puig, said during a meeting with the Zharangutiun (Heritage) Party on July 23.

Today Mr. Puig met with representatives of the NA leading parties and opposition. The parliamentarian majority mostly dwelt on the Chairman’s statement made in Baku.

Note, Azeri mass media had distorted the Chairman’s words. Luis Maria de Puig stressed that the CoE accepts the territorial wholeness of its member states. The CoE also accepts the principle to self-governance within the realms of law. The Azeri media had omitted the last part of the statement.

Secretary of the Zharangutiun Party, Stepan Safarian, confirmed Puig’s words. Safarian says during the meeting with the PACE Chairman the Zharangutiun criticized PACE Resolution 1620 which obviously empowers the Armenian authorities to continue their anti-democratic policy. Particularly, the PACE welcomed the amendments to the RoA Law on “Meetings, Assemblies, Marches and Demonstrations” thus giving the authorities another chance to bar rallies on the grounds of false data submitted by the Police and the National Security Service.

The opposition asked Mr. Puig why the perpetrators of mass disorders are not persecuted if the police provide reliable information.

“The Zharangutiun has always highlighted Armenia’s integration into the European family. But today we are at a loss as the Council of Europe sets incomprehensible and unacceptable criteria in Armenia-Europe relations, especially in view of national security, democracy, etc,” said Stepan Safarian.

Luis Maria de Puig was concerned about Zharangutiun’s opinion towards the CoE.

He says they will be consistent and most likely Armenia will be the only CoE member to quit the European family.

Anahit Bakhshian said they don’t wish Armenia to be left out of the European family. They want Armenia to stick to European standards and principles.

The PACE Chairman says he has arrived in Armenia to follow the implementation of the PACE Resolution and to demand an urgent release for people detained during the post-election period.

During the meeting the Zharangutiun members also raised the issue of freedom of expression. They demanded implementation of the EC decision and A1+’s return to the air.

Stepan Safarian says the meeting was fruitful and he noticed resolution on the part of Luis Maria de Puig.

Luis Maria de Puig has also met with the NA ad hoc Committee investigating the March 1 occurrences.