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Political Circles Expect No Further Armenia Debate at PACE


Representatives of Armenia’s government and opposition expect no further discussions on the country’s political situation caused by last year’s disputed presidential election and its deadly aftermath at the upcoming sessions of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE).

Arman Grigorian, a representative of the main opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) to the PACE, ruled out any major developments in relation to Armenia in Strasbourg this fall.

“It is unlikely that the issue of Armenia will be discussed [at the PACE] during the autumn plenary session,” Grigorian told RFE/RL on Wednesday.

At the same time, Grigorian called it premature to consider the issue of Armenia closed at the PACE. He, in particular, reminded that authorities in Yerevan have not yet fully complied with the Strasbourg-based body’s latest resolution that among other things also urged them not to imprison political figures that decide to turn themselves in to law-enforcement bodies in response to the declared amnesty.

“The issue will be closed when all demands stated in the resolution are complied with,” Grigorian stressed. “I don’t think the Council of Europe will tolerate [the Armenian government’s] failure to comply forever.”

The HAK’s representative reminded that the PACE Monitoring Commission will hear a report on Armenia in September.

“There is nothing that can prevent the Council of Europe from putting Armenia back under a special monitoring regime,” he added.

Artsruni Aghajanian, a representative of the parliamentary faction of the pro-government Orinats Yerkir party and a member of Armenia’s delegation to the PACE, agrees that no major developments on Armenia are expected at the autumn session in Strasbourg.

“The positive steps initiated by the authorities will be completed by the end of the year. The Monitoring Commission is likely to make a final analysis next spring and report on it to the Assembly. But no discussions on Armenia will be held at plenary meetings anymore,” Aghajanian said. “It does not mean, however, that the issue is closed. Major questions have been addressed. A few secondary ones remain, and we are keen on seeing them addressed as well.”
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