PACE TO HEAR REPORT ON ARMENIA MEETING COMMITMENTS TO CE IN JUNE

PanARMENIAN.Net - A report on Armenia meeting its commitments to the Council of Europe will be heard at the June session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. As reported by "Arminfo" agency, special envoy of the CE secretary general in Armenia Natalia Vutova said. In her words, if by the time Armenia does not introduce changes in its Criminal Code and does not ratify the 6-th protocol of the Human Rights Convention providing for full repeal of death penalty, the PACE sitting will consider it as a failure to meet the obligations. N. Vutova emphasized that if Armenia falls short of meeting the commitments it may entail application of sanctions against the country. Specifically, in her words, the matter may concern cessation of membership at the CE for a year, as it was in case of Russia during the events in Chechnya. Natalia Vutova said that the Council of Europe was dissatisfied with the part of the package of constitutional changes referring to the citizens' right for life. The item does not fit the recommendations of the CE Venetian commission on full repeal of capital punishment in the republic. The CE also insists on making amendments to the Legislation on administrative offences to prevent further opportunities to arrest people participating in demonstrations and meetings. Moreover, the CE deems necessary introduction of changes into the law on police and passing a new law on mass media.