EUROPEAN OBSERVERS PURSUED OTHER POLITICAL GOALS AT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT VICE SPEAKER CONSIDERS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Surely the PACE and OSCE observation missions' negative evaluation of the second round of the presidential election of Armenia is based on certain facts. However, the volume of these facts does not provide ground for such sharp criticism. Vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament Tigran Torosian told "Arminfo" agency. "The observers exceeded their authority, thus proving that they not only performed their main mission in Armenia, but also pursued other political goals," - he noted. In the vice-speaker's words, no organization is entitled to announce any evaluations before the final returns of the second round of the election are made public. Nevertheless, it was done, which is evidence of availability of a rather political than legal component, the vice-speaker considers. In his opinion, one thing that is obvious is that the European observers' assessment is incommensurable with the events and the reality present not only in Armenia, but also in other CIS countries today. "It is evident to everyone that Armenia is incapable of advancing towards democracy with such big strides," - Tigran Torosian considers. At the same time, in his words, all commitments the republic had to the Council of Europe are fulfilled in a timely and conscientious manner. "One can admit that Europeans were inspired with the fact that Armenia made notable progress in the legislative respect, and thus they expected to see a better picture of the electoral process. Although for the European observers' evaluation to be fair they had to make a full assessment of the reality and not to make demands not even presented to some EU member states of Armenia and other similar countries," - T. Torosian noted. As of forecasts of the possibility of ceasing Armenia's membership in the Council of Europe, Tigran Torosian noted it was not the first time the issue was mentioned. In his words, it had been forecasted lately in connection with repeal of death penalty, but it did not happen, as Armenia presented concrete facts, which showed there were obstacles the republic does it best to overcome. The sanctions regarding Armenia can be applied with political intentions, Tigran Torosian noted. At the same time he expressed confidence it was unlikely. The vice-speaker of the parliament emphasized that the Council of Europe membership was of high value for Armenia, but it was not the only way to development and there were many alternatives.