16 will remain jailed
Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Hovik Abrahamian voiced satisfaction over the collaboration between the Armenian Parliament and the PACE. During today's press conference in Strabourg he thanked the Co-Rapporteurs for their support to Armenia and added that the March 1 tragedy was seriously taken by the President and authorities. "We are taking every effort to turn over the page of deadly clashes and we are obliged to do it jointly with the public."
After the reporters observed that PACE Secretary General Terry Davis had announced that the page of March 1 couldn't be turned over, Hovik Abrahamian said: "I aggree with the Secretary General. We still have much to do. Investigatiosn are underway. Some people are wanted. The process is still continuing. But we have demonstrated political willpower and we shall do our best to ensure transparant and fair inquiry into the matter. I also hope that the NA ad hoc Committee chaired by Nikoyan will do evrything possible to provide us with verified information on the disputed occurences."
The NA Speaker also noted that Serzh Sargsyan made a humanitarian decision by declaring an amnesty and he did it in due time. "Better late than never," he added.
In reply to A1+'s observation that 16 people are still jailed in Armenian prisons, Mr. Abrahamian said: "Half of them have no connection with the March 1 events. Your are speaking of people prosecuted for treachery and acquisition of illegal weapons who cannot be amnestied under the Articles they are charged with."
Diana Markosyan
Strasbourg
