YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–At the plenary session June 28 the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted for Armenia’s full membership in the Council of Europe–which became a landmark event in Armenian history–Chairman of the National Assembly Armen Khachatrian said in a news conference July 3.
The NA chairman pointed out that "new prospects–a new European geography for Armenia’s development and many political and later economic opportunities were created," opportunities which will enable Armenia to get closer to European countries as far as possible–to harmonize its laws–culture and education–bring human rights and freedoms in conformity to European standards and thereby follow the European countries in their way of progress".
The PACE decision will be affirmed in the CE Committee of Ministers in September or November. However–Khachatrian said that "there is no danger," as this affirmation has ceremonial value only. As for the obligations to be imposed on Armenia by CE–there are preconditions to fulfill them–and "all the obligations to be imposed are consonant with our wishes."We have to do a lot in the political–juridical and economic spheres–as well as in connection with the Karabakh conflict. I would like to assure you that the fulfillment of the requiremen’s set to us will drastically promote the democratic processes in Armenia," Khachatrian said. According to the agreemen’s achieved–the CE Development Bank will render financial assistance to keep the processes alive.
The chairman of the National Assembly also stated that if Armenia could move forward after its admission to the CE–this would promote the development of our economy. In this case we will have an opportunity first of all to focus our attention on the press because we are well aware of the power and influence the mass media has. It should be noted that one of the CE requiremen’s is the adoption of a new law on mass media through which the mass media will get new fundamental freedoms and certain protectability.