1 / 2

On March 17 RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan received the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Lord John Prescott and Alex Fischer.

Thanking for cooperation and the work done by the co-rapporteurs in strengthening the democracy in Armenia the NA Speaker emphasized their efforts, which were aimed at supporting our country to overcome the problems emerged in the process of reforms. Hovik Abrahamyangreeted the new co-rapporteur Axel Fischer and wished success in the fulfillment of his obligations.

John Prescott highly assessed the ongoing reforms in Armenia and emphasized the NA Speaker’s role in the recorded progress after the situation created as a consequence of March 1 events. The co-rapporteur noted that in PACE Spring Session they will report about the reforms and progress made in Armenia. He especially emphasized the prospective reforms, which are more appraisable. In Mr Prescott’s opinion, it is necessary the criticism to be moved to the parliament, and the parliament is the podium, where the stances of the persons of different stances should be audible. He highly assessed the NA Speaker’s efforts in this direction, as Mr Abrahamyan repeatedly proposed the opposition to use the NA tribune for presenting their views.

At the meeting the sides touched upon the issue of releasing the imprisoned persons after March 1-2, 2008 events, the reforms of the Electoral Code, the ongoing reforms in the police and judicial systems and the order of formation of the National Committee of Television and Radio. Mr Abrahamyan noted that the reformed Electoral Code presented to the judgment of the public had passed a long-lasting road of discussions and the voices and the proposals of all the persons, who had wish to have their contribution in that process, had been audible.

The NA Speaker reaffirmed the will and readiness of the RA authorities to carry out unbiased and transparent examination in connection with March 1-2 events, stressing that everybody wanted to know the truth.

Hovik Abrahamyan expressed his concern in relation to the re-launching of the works of the PACE Ad-hoc Committee on NK issue, noting that it would impede the works of the OSCE Minsk Group. Mr Prescotte also expressed concern and noted that they should be careful not to record regress.

At the end NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan stressed that the President of Armenia, the Parliament and the Government were resolute in reaching to the end the democratic reforms.

Being an MP of the United Kingdom John Prescott highly assessed the visit of the NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan to London, noting that the speakers of the two chambers of the British Parliament had been impressed from his meeting.

Other issues were also discussed at the meeting.