January 29, 2002 - 22:43 AMT
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER ISSUE ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ABOLITION
The National Assembly of Armenia will start the consideration of the issue on capital punishment abolition at the beginning of February. This topic will be a discussion subject for lawmakers as the ratification of the European convention on human rights is on the agenda. The sixth protocol of the Convention stipulates the obligation on abolition of the capital punishment. According to member of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Armen Rustamian, the arguments of Armenian part regarding the expediency to make an exception in the issue of the capital punishment abolition for the accused of terrorist act at the Parliament were not accepted by the PACE leadership. Rustamian is sure that if the sixth protocol of the Convention on human rights is not ratified, the European Council can impose sanctions against Armenia.