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ARMENIA SHOULD REVIEW ITS MEMBERSHIP TO CoE /VIDEO/

Politics


“If the Council of Europe continues to second the Armenian leadership and close an eye to the existence of political prisoners in the country and numerous restrictions on human freedoms, I think it is no longer our concern but the CoE’s. I think after the government overthrow Armenia’s new administration should review its membership to the Council of Europe. Let Columbier and Prescott ponder over the issue,” said member of the Armenian National Congress David Shahnazaryan.


“I don’t inspire great hopes from the upcoming sitting of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Paris. Surely, the Committee should impose political rather than economic sanctions on Armenia. It should suspend Armenia’s right to vote as our delegation’s activity at the CoE endangers our state interests.


David Shahnazaryan reminded that the Armenian delegation is busy protecting the repressions of the Armenian Government and neglects the pending Azerbaijani initiatives for the Karabakh issue settlement jeopardizing the interests of Armenia and Artsakh.


At the same time the ANC member added that the Armenian Government faces innumerable problems in external policies resulted by its illegitimacy.


“The government is facing problems at the Council of Europe, which is the consequence of recent crimes: numerous detentions, election fraud, March 1 unrest, political prisoners, and restraints on political and civil freedoms.”


Summing up the year of 2008, David Shahnazaryan said if earlier this year Armenia faced a deficit of democracy and violation of human rights, the issue of Karabakh, the international economic crisis and the new situation in the region added at the turn of the year.


Taking into account all these home achievements Mr. Shahnazaryan said that they help establish power of people in the country.


“The year was a turning point for Armenia as now we have a society close to a civil one, a society which is united than ever We have more clarity in the political domain, and it is already clear who is with people, and who represents the bandit clan.


According to the ANC member first and foremost tactical issue of the opposition remains the release of the political prisoners, and the strategic issue is to establish constitutional order in Armenia.