PACE co-rapporteur praises amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code

PanARMENIAN.Net - On July 20, Armenian parliamentary speaker Hovik Abrahamyan met with PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteur on Armenia Axel Fischer.

During the meeting, Abrahamyan called Fischer’s attention to positive shifts in Armenia, specifically noting a resolution on amnesty passed by the parliament on the initiative of Armenian President, as well as the first opposition-collation meeting held on July 18. The speaker further emphasized the importance of free and transparent parliamentary elections to be held in 2012 as well as the amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code to enable a healthier atmosphere at the elections and aimed at amending the omissions allowed during previous elections.

The co-rapporteur, in turn, gave positive assessment to reforms in Armenia, noting the amendments to the Electoral Code to be in accordance with European standards. He stressed the importance of providing equal conditions to all parliamentary candidates, praising the role of the National Assembly of Armenia in implementation of reforms, parliamentary press service reported.

The first meeting between the coalition group and ANC was held on July 18.

The composition of ANC delegation to negotiate with the authorities included ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan, representative of the central bureau David Shahnazaryan, a member of ANC economic committee, the head of ANC structure in Malatya Vahagn Khachatryan, People’s Party of Armenia secretary Felix Khachatryan and deputy head of Armenian National Movement Samvel Abrahamyan

Coalitional working group formed to participate in coalition-opposition talks, included: David Harutyunyan (Republican Party of Armenia), Gagik Minasyan (Republican Party of Armenia), Naira Zohrabyan (Prosperous Armenia Party), Vardan Bostanjyan (Prosperous Armenia Party), Mher Shahgeldyan (Orinats Yerkir Party) and Khachik Harutyunyan (Orinats Yerkir Party).

President Sargsyan offered the National Assembly to declare amnesty on occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, the proposal being based on article 81.1.1 of the RA Constitution and article 90 of the law on National Assembly regulations. With a vote 91-0, the Armenian parliament approved Thursday, May 26, President Serzh Sargsyan’s proposal for declaration of amnesty for 396 people to be released and 379 to have their sentence cut.