ANC FAMILIARISES PACE WITH ITS OPINION
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The Armenian National Congress (ANC) expresses disappointment at PACE’s attitude towards Armenia, in particular at the adoption of Resolution 1643 during yesterday’s session. Armenia’s senior oppositionists Levon Zurabyan and Arman Grigoryan today handed the PACE delegates ANC’s letter regarding Resolution 1643 as a “backward step” from the Monitoring Committee’s draft resolution of December 17, 2008.
“The letter was given to all parliamentarians both in printed and electronic versions,” Levon Zurabyan said to A1+.
“The voting at the Monitoring Committee and Assembly was based on unverified information,” runs the ANC letter.
The Congress ensures that out of the 16 detainees granted a Presidential pardon last week 14 are criminals and only two have been recognised as political prisoners by the Armenian opposition.
The ANC is surprised that the Co- rapporteurs welcome the Presidential decree when in reality most detainees appealing for pardon were forced to sign the document.
The Congress states that 58 political prisoners are still jailed, and their existence puts the verisimilitude of the report into question.
The letter says the authorities’ pledge to amend Articles 225 and 300 of Armenia’s Criminal Code is another trick to gain time.
Furthermore, the Congress voices concern that “the Co- rapporteurs’ activity lacks transparency, and they avoid any contact with the Armenian opposition.
The co-authors say that the fact that the Co- rapporteurs didn’t meet with the Armenian opposition during their last visit to Yerevan “directly affected the quality of their report and the reputation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.”
The Armenian National Congress voices hope that the situation will soon be remedied which will require “active involvement and assiduous work of PACE relevant bodies and political groups.”
Karine Asatryan
Strasbourg
