“Prescott is informed”
Many participants of the CE Forum for the "Future of Democracy" believe that RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan's speech on the state of democracy in Armenia doesn't correspond to the reality.
"The protest organized outside goes to show that Armenia is in a crisis. There are political prisoners and nobody has been punished for the murders after March 1," member of the Armenian Delegation to the PACE Zaruhi Postanjyan told "A1+".
Although the CE Co-Rapporteur on Armenia John Prescott didn't address the situation in Armenia in his speech, Mrs. Postanjyan is certain that Prescott knows very well what is going on in the country and she hopes that this forum will contribute to the political prisoners' release.
Member of the Armenian Delegation to the PACE Armen Rostamyan refused to call those condemned for their political views "political prisoners". "That is merely a legal evaluation and it is not even used by the CE."
Armen Rostamyan believes that the RA Foreign Minister didn't present the real situation in Armenia in his speech today. "It was the official standpoint. The image should be presented more overtly and realistically. Even democratically developed countries in Europe see problems with democracy. The Europeans are aware of the situation and will not be evaluating the situation based on our speeches," said Mr. Rostamyan.
He welcomed the HAK's protest. "If there are issues in the country, they must be raised. After 2008, an attempt was made to take into account the crisis in the country and take steps, but we don't see them."
Chairman of the "National Self-Determination" Party Paruyr Hayrikyan has no doubt that the 13 HAK members are political prisoners. Hayrikyan believes that the field is not open for people who have fought for democracy in Armenia to speak.
According to Paruyr Hayrikyan, the RA Foreign Minister didn't present the reality, but his wishes during today's forum.
