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On January 16 Lord John Prescott, Co-Rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who arrived in Armenia on three-day working visit, met with the delegation of the National Assembly to the PACE and parliamentary factions in the National Assembly.

In the beginning of the meeting with the NA delegation to the PACE Mr Prescott has noted that during his three-day visit he aims to get familiarized with the procedure of the reforms made in the spheres of justice and police and March events investigation. The Assembly finds that considerable positive changes have been made in Armenia, but shortcomings have been, some problems are not still solved in the systems of police and justice. Touching upon the upcoming elections the co-rapporteur has said that today in the meeting with the NGOs it has been clear that the expectations of the society are different this time from the quality of the parliamentary and presidential elections.

Davit Harutyunyan, Head of the NA delegation to the PACE has touched upon the issues Mr Prescott has been interested in, noting that the Armenian authorities have taken serious seeps in all directions, though there are many things to do. By Mr Harutyunyan’s assessment, in the issue of the reforms of police and justice systems the role of the parliament has risen, which is very important. Speaking about the coming elections, the Head of the delegation has noted that the elaborated Electoral Code is also of essential importance, which has received the endorsement of the Venice Commission. It has been noted that the Code contains numerous preventive mechanisms. Mr Harutyunyan has highlighted in the issue of law enforcement the political will, which, in his opinion, exists. Davit Harutyunyan has also emphasized the educational process being implemented for the members of the electoral committees, which also will have a positive impact on the quality of the elections.

Naira Zohrabyan, member of the NA delegation to the PACE, has noted that the upcoming elections should differ from all the previous elections. According to her, the Electoral Code has been elaborated, and dependent from the political will the provisions of the laws will be fulfilled or not. In the opinion of the member of the Armenian delegation Armen Rustamyan, there is public expectation that the upcoming elections shall differ from the previous elections. The member of the ARF faction has highlighted the initiative on eliminating the majoritarian electoral system, noting that the extra-parliamentary influential and parliamentary opposition forces agree over this issue.

During the meeting with the RA NA Heritage faction the provisions of the 1837 Resolution, which was adopted by the PACE on Armenia, the proposals of the Heritage faction on the RA Electoral Code, as well as issues concerning the upcoming parliamentary elections were discussed.

The Head of the faction Styopa Safaryan said that the faction had got familiarized with the report comprised of about 100 pages, and in that connection had certain concerns. In particular, he expressed concern about the circumstances of the 10 casualties during the March 1, 2008 events, as well as in connection with the views fixed in the PACE Resolution 1837 on the activity of the fact-finding group.

The members of the faction also touched upon the process of the adoption of the Electoral Code and presented the proposals and work of their faction in that direction, particularly, noted their proposal and substantiations of turning into 100 per cent majoritarian electoral system.

Touching upon the proportional and majoritarian electoral systems John Prescott has noted that in his opinion, exclusively the proportional electoral system cannot promote the deepening of democratization, though, according to him, this is the issue, which the parties of the given country should solve.

The representatives of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction also met with the PACE Co-Rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee John Prescott. The ARF faction deputies said that their faction had joined with reservation the conclusion of the Ad-Hoc Committee connected with the March events, including the holding of investigation on 10 casualties and making aware the public and taking into account the committee’s conclusion, proposed to create a new Ad-Hoc Committee for implementing monitoring, which the political majority had refused, and reserve that power to the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs. Touching upon the amendments of the Electoral Code, the deputies said that the parliamentary opposition, the ARF and the Heritage, had also presented proposals, which the political had refused. At this moment they insist on completely passing into proportional electoral order.

The ARF faction deputies proposed to send as more observers, as it is possible to Armenia during the upcoming parliamentary elections in order to be absent from the electoral districts during the whole election for fully registering the picture of the election in this or that district. They also touched upon the necessity of issuing the voters’ lists

By Mr Prescott’s assessment, the political forces should make the decision on turning into proportional electoral system, coming into agreement as a result of discussions, regarding his view he is for keeping the majoritarian system. He also added that such change of the electoral system at the same time supposes referendum, which is not possible to hold during this period.

Mr Prescott has also registered that as he has been informed, the standing committee has prepared a report connected with the March events, which he will get familiarized with and will collect necessary and complete information for including in his report.

During his meeting with the members of the NA Rule of Law faction the PACE co-rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee Lord John Prescott, among the theme of the elections, also raised issues, which were in the focus of the attention of the Assembly. According to the co-rapporteur, since 2008 considerable positive changes have been made in Armenia, and some processes are still in the phase developments. As such the reorms in systems of justice and police, have been mentioned especially the investment of the new model of complaint in the police. By the Rule of Law deputies’ assessment, during the two years a progress is noticed in the all the mentioned directions. The interlocutors also touched upon the Electoral Code and the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Head of the faction Heghine Bisharyan noted that the Electoral Code had been seriously changed, and the dispute of the parties over the proportional-majoritarian electoral systems she considered out of time, saying that little time has been left for the elections. The faction members Khachik Harutyunyan and Hovhannes Margaryan touched upon the March 1-2, 2008 events, noting that it has concerned both the whole people and them, and considered important that today the atmosphere of 2008 is already in the past, the result of which there were 10 casualties. To their assessment, today an atmosphere of tolerance and agreement is created.

The members of the Prosperous Armenia faction of the National Assembly discussed issues relating to the upcoming parliamentary elections with the PACE co-rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee John Prescott. The faction member Naira Zohrabyan has talked about the importance of the upcoming elections and has said that the international authority and the further procedure of our country depend on it. Ms Zohrabyan has considered an important precondition that every party taking part in the elections shows political will for holding fair and free elections. The speaker considered necessary for ensuring fair elections by providing the presence of a big quantity of observers from the European structures not only for short term, but also for long term in Armenia. Naira Zohrabyan reached an agreement with John Prescott to meet with the Armenian delegation to the PACE after forming the CoE Observation Mission and discuss the problems, to which the observers should pay attention.

In the meeting the sides also touched upon the reforms of the police and justice systems, and talked about clarifying the circumstances of the 10 casualties of 2008 March events, in particular, about the conclusion of the special investigation group.

During the meeting of the RPA faction members Mr Prescott said that the issue of the proportional electoral system, had already been discussed with other factions. He proposed not to discuss that issue, as the Council of Europe had not put before itself a task to submit a report on the electoral system. It is welcoming the variety of the sounded opinions, which is also a manifestation of democratization, but taking into account that is not possible to hold a referendum and make changes until the upcoming elections, the discussion of that issue is not realistic. He ensured that the optimism on the Electoral Code and upcoming elections is much bigger, which is the result of the RA President’s efforts and work done by the parliament. There are numerous changes, on which the Council of Europe has expressed its satisfaction.

Mr Prescott asked the deputies to present their positions on the procedure of the reforms of police and judicial-legal systems, works done and the results of the March 1 investigation results.

Galust Sahakyan, Head of the RPA faction, has registered with satisfaction that Mr Prescott’s and their evaluations coincide. He said that the last amendments of the Electoral Code were adopted in October 2011. At present their opposition tries to speculate it, for pre-election certain campaign, whereas the Code has passed an examination period and enjoyed endorsement. Touching upon the study of the March 1 events, Mr Sahakyan has noted that it is a problem of legal field and is under the RA President’s daily control, and the investigation actions continue. During the last months hundreds of new examinations are going on. Davit Harutyunyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and the Head of the RA NA delegation to the PACE, presented the procedure of the reforms made in the police and judicial-legal systems. He has said that a big programme had been worked out with the OSCE experts on the reforms of the RA Police, which during the last two years had passed an active phase of education and amendments, and the experience shows that the reforms are on the right path. Necessity of a number of legislative amendments concerning this sphere has risen, part of which has already been adopted. Soon the relevant standing committee will organize the next parliamentary hearings to discuss the procedure of the reforms in the system of police. At present the sequence of the reforms of the judicial-legal system of 2012-2016 to be carried out. A number of laws designed for this year’s discussion are already worked out, and the last corrections are made. Mr Harutyunyan considered natural that some political forces try to touch upon the March 1 tragic events in the pre-electoral period, especially that they are connected with the elections. At the same time he has noted that sadly it has its impact on the assessments of the victims’ families. During the recent period on the RA President’s initiative serious forces have been involved in the sphere of the issue examination. Numerous shortcomings have been revealed, but still there are many issues, which are not disclosed, and the public are concerned about it. The Standing Committee has presented a report about it, which is posted on the website of the committee.

In response to the question how the upcoming parliamentary elections are held, Galust Sahkyan has said that everything is done to hold elections, and for the our people and for their future, and the rise of the international prestige of our country.

In response to the question how the upcoming parliamentary elections are held, Galust Sahkyan has said that everything is done to hold elections, and for the our people and for their future, and the rise of the international prestige of our country.