June 23, 2003 - 18:06 AMT
COUNCIL OF EUROPE PROLONGED TERMS OF RATIFICATION BY ARMENIA EUROPEAN CONVENTION 6-TH PROTOCOL PROVIDING DEATH PENALTY CANCELLATION
The Council of Europe postponed the terms of the ratification by Armenia the 6-th protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights providing for the absolute cancellation of the capital punishment to the beginning of 2004. Head of the Armenian delegation in PACE, chairman of the Armenian parliamentary commission for external links Armen Rustamian told "Arka" agency. In his words, Europe met Armenia halfway, as the newly elected parliament of the country would not manage to ratify the protocol by July. At the same time A.Rustamian expressed assurance that gathering political power, the recently elected parliament would fulfill its obligation to the CE, as the country if facing the choice - whether to continue the European oriented way or deviate from it.