Report on Armenia's PACE commitments discussed

The report worked out by PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteurs on Armenian Georges Colombier, Mikko Elo was discussed in the meeting.

35 parliamentarians took part in the discussion as it was 30 minutes left to the end of the meeting.

Georges Colombier began his statement with the positive points of the ongoing processes in Armenia.

He noted that necessary conditions were created for Armenia to fulfill its commitments in the field of human rights, democratic development and legislation.

He highly estimated holding elections to Irevan Major's Office, the possibility of appealing to Constitution Court and establishment of Commissioner Institute on Human Rights.

The co-rapporteur also noted that there are problems in election system and forging of the results of referendums on constitution.

He mentioned that there is no mechanism in the country to punish the ones who falsify the results of the elections and it put the results under doubt.

Generally, French parliamentarian did not utter any serious shortcomings. Other co-rapporteur Mikko Elo made his speech wholly on Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

He estimated the conflict as the biggest obstacle for the peace and stability in the region.

"But we did not stand on this issue in our report. Sub-committee on Nagorno Karabakh have assigned on this purpose. The meeting of the presidents held on November 28 last year justified hopes for the settlement of the conflict. The settlement of the conflict serves the interests of both sides. PACE with the assistance of Sub-committee on Nagorno Karabakh will try to help to negotiations processes. We will support the continuation of dialogue between the countries on the level of parliaments as well as with Karabakh people."

As the discussions began late, out of 20 men registered in the list, 7 made speech. Three of them were parliamentarians of Armenian Parliament and one was the member of French parliament, pro-armenian Fransua Roshebloun. Though 5 members of the Azerbaijani delegation were included in the list, they were not given the floor. Only Armen Roustamyan, Armenian parliamentarian touched upon Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

He said that Armenia's position on Nagorno Karabakh coincides with the commitments presented in the CE documents. He blamed Azerbaijan for frustrating the process of negotiations and mentioned the importance of Nagorno Karabakh's participation in the dialogues.

"Azerbaijan's position on this problem is obvious, they want to possess Karabakh, which was once presented to them by Stalin," he said.

Other speeches were mostly devoted to the processes ongoing in Armenia. Armenia proposed only three amendments to the resolution and these amendments were accepted. The draft resolution was approved 32-1 with 2 abstaining.

APA correspondent in Strasbourg said that the members of the Azerbaijani delegation were generally dissatisfied with the discussions.

Member of the Azerbaijani delegation Rafael Huseynov considers that the meeting more resembled meeting of Armenian parliament, rather than of the PACE.

"The time, content and process of the discussions were organized so that it more resembled the meeting of Armenian parliament. No one from the Azerbaijani delegation was given the floor. I am sure that it happened under the influence of Armenian lobby and forces connected with the Armenian delegation. Chronologically, we were to make speech first. Two days before the assembly I looked through the list in the APCE secretariat, my name was the first in the list. But later, only Roustamyan, Torosyan, Demirchiyan and pro-armenian parliamentarian from France Roshebloun made speech. It was planned. I openly accuse the CE secretariat and we will present written accusation to the CE. Besides, only 40 minutes were allotted for the discussion of the very important issue. Actually, the meeting resembled Armenian parliament and Armenia's commitments were not discussed, but the discussions were imitated," he said.