At the end of a monitoring visit to Yerevan , co-rapporteurs for Armenia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) John Prescott and Axel Fischer came out with a joint statement, according to PACE press service.

In the statement co-rapporteurs have welcomed the evolving dialogue between the ruling coalition in the National Assembly and the extra-parliamentary opposition party, the Armenian National Congress.

Mr. Fischer said he hoped this would go hand in hand with a similar constructive dialogue between the ruling coalition and parliamentary opposition in the National Assembly.

“I am very satisfied with the start of this dialogue, a long-standing wish of the Assembly, which is essential for the ongoing normalisation of the political environment in Armenia. I call on all parties to display maximum flexibility and good faith to make it a success.”

Mr Fischer also stressed the importance of the forthcoming parliamentary elections for the democratic development of the country.

In this context he called upon all parties to ensure the democratic nature of the elections and to refrain from any actions or statements that could undermine that trust.

The findings of this visit will contribute to the report that Mr Fischer will prepare, together with the other co-rapporteur John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC), for the Assembly’s autumn session.

July 19-21, PACE co-rapporteurs for Armenia John Prescott and Axel Fischer visited Armenia.