On June 19 the sitting of the Ad-hoc Inquiry Committee into the Events Occurred on 1-2 March 2008 in Yerevan and Their Reasons was held presided over Mr Samvel Nikoyan.

The committee voted to adopt the principle of inviting the extra-parliamentary forces to attend the works by the right of consultative voting and approved the list. It was decided to invite a representative from extra-parliamentary political forces, who overcame the 3% threshold at the May 12, 2007 parliamentary elections (National Unity, United Labour Party and New Times Party) and the presidential candidates representing political force at the February 19, 2008 presidential elections (Aram Harutyunyan, Tigran Karapetyan, Vazgen Manukyan) or one representative on behalf of each candidate, except the political forces, who are involved in the committee by the decision of the National Assembly.

The Committee decided to ask the President of the Republic of Armenia to propose one representative from the Public Council at the President’s Office of the Republic of Armenia.

By another decision the Committee will send a letter to the Secretary of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe Mr Gianni Buquicchio and head of EU delegation in Armenia Mr Raul Lutzenberger and ask them to send appropriate international experts to attend the works of the committee.

The next sitting of the committee will be held on June 24 at 12:00.