During September 11th session of the PACE Monitoring Committee held in Paris, Thomas Hammarberg, CoE High Commissioner for Human Rights, gave a 10-mintute talk on the report of Armenia’s compliance with the requirements of the PACE Resolutions # 1609 and 1620.
Although that report wasn’t very positive about Armenian government however it didn’t contain any evident negative formulations. Hammarberg mentioned that despite certain positive steps of the government of Armenia there is still no fertile result noticed. At any rate, the fear that the focus of the international community is on the Georgian-Ossetian conflict came true and Armenia stays apart from the discussions to a certain extent. The Armenian MPs think that the report was slightly incomplete and rapid due to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. However, the government coalition members have undertaken certain positive steps, such as establishment of the public committee on investigation of March 1 events. Meanwhile they think that the right time to discuss the issue of Armenia in PACE is in January. “With regard to the implementation of the PACE Resolutions # 1609 and 1620, Thomas Hammarberg mentioned that there was definitely a progress, however, he added that they anticipated more essential changes in the near future. He underlined the necessity of more effective activities by the interim committee, as well as informed the participants that negotiations and consultations were being held with the Armenian authorities with the purpose of setting up the fact finding group. He also expressed hope that all the forces would participate in the activities of the group, including both the opposition and the radical opposition,” said Naira Zohramyan, member of the Prosperous Armenia faction. Member of the Republican faction Edward Sharmazanov and member of the ARF faction Artyusha Shahbazyan told the 168-Zham newspaper several days ago that the fulfillment of the resolutions 1609 and 1620 will be discussed in January. They said the same think yesterday. Member of the Heritage faction Zaruhi Postnjyan claims that there can be no word about progress. “Moreover, we can even say that we have regress in the process of amending the law on TV and Radio. As of why Hammarberg’s report was short I think that it is first of all stipulated by the Georgian-Ossetian conflict because the west is totally focused on that conflict,” said Postanjyan. The latter also informed that they are holding a discussion with several news agencies and they might come up with a new initiative on the amendment of the law on TV and Radio.