PACE holds hot debate on Armenia report
Passions flared up on Armenia report in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe yesterday, Kommersant daily reports.
Presenting his report, UK representative John Prescott said the presidential election in Armenia were mostly in line with the European standards. However, lack of criticism aroused discontent of some delegates.
Hungary's Zsolt Nemeth reminded that the Armenian election was followed by riots that claimed lives of 9 people. "The Council of Europe legitimizes anti-democratic deeds of the Armenian authorities. If we can't change anything let's stop sending observers. We need fundamental assessment of monitoring missions," he said.
Sweden's Marietta de Purbe-Lunden said the election results were being marred before her eyes in one of polling stations.
Azerbaijan's representative Samad Seyidov was even more criticizing. "Mr Prescott says the election was held in line with the CoE standards. Does it mean that murders are in line with European standards? The whole world is closely watching the developments in Tibet. Why doesn't anyone speak of lawlessness in Armenia?" he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Prescott and several other observers remarked that the critics are too emotional and biased. No shocking violations were fixed on the election day, they said.
The debate will be continued on Thursday. It means that majority of the delegates do not agree with John Prescott's mild assessments and can question the authority of the Armenian delegation to PACE.
Presenting his report, UK representative John Prescott said the presidential election in Armenia were mostly in line with the European standards. However, lack of criticism aroused discontent of some delegates.
Hungary's Zsolt Nemeth reminded that the Armenian election was followed by riots that claimed lives of 9 people. "The Council of Europe legitimizes anti-democratic deeds of the Armenian authorities. If we can't change anything let's stop sending observers. We need fundamental assessment of monitoring missions," he said.
Sweden's Marietta de Purbe-Lunden said the election results were being marred before her eyes in one of polling stations.
Azerbaijan's representative Samad Seyidov was even more criticizing. "Mr Prescott says the election was held in line with the CoE standards. Does it mean that murders are in line with European standards? The whole world is closely watching the developments in Tibet. Why doesn't anyone speak of lawlessness in Armenia?" he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Prescott and several other observers remarked that the critics are too emotional and biased. No shocking violations were fixed on the election day, they said.
The debate will be continued on Thursday. It means that majority of the delegates do not agree with John Prescott's mild assessments and can question the authority of the Armenian delegation to PACE.
